De Soto, IL vs Smith Center, KS: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Smith Center, KS has a modeled overall cost index 8.1% lower than De Soto, IL.

De Soto, IL · modeled 2BR rent
$1,000 / month
Smith Center, KS · modeled 2BR rent
$920 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare De Soto, IL and Smith Center, KS using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

$
Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $466/month in Smith Center, KS

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $144,405 in Smith Center, KS

Regional cost estimates: De Soto, IL uses St. Louis, MO. Smith Center, KS uses Lincoln, NE. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↓ 8.1%
Less expensive
Monthly Impact
$466
Savings
Annual Impact
$5.6K
Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

De Soto, IL

Population:1K
Cost Index:
77.9
100 = national average
Typical Home:$106K

Smith Center, KS

Population:2K
Cost Index:
71.6
100 = national average
Typical Home:$106K

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De Soto, IL

The Prairie State

1K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Illinois, this city has a population of 1K residents.

Smith Center, KS

The Sunflower State

2K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Kansas, this city has a population of 2K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: De Soto, IL vs Smith Center, KS

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Other
↓ 14.0%
De Soto, IL
$1,817
Smith Center, KS
$1,564
Difference
$254
less
Transportation
↓ 10.2%
De Soto, IL
$1,375
Smith Center, KS
$1,235
Difference
$140
less
Healthcare
↑ 21.3%
De Soto, IL
$629
Smith Center, KS
$763
Difference
$134
more
All Utilities
↓ 17.7%
De Soto, IL
$640
Smith Center, KS
$526
Difference
$114
less
Groceries
↓ 6.3%
De Soto, IL
$1,134
Smith Center, KS
$1,063
Difference
$71.07
less
Housing
↓ 1.2%
De Soto, IL
$1,904
Smith Center, KS
$1,882
Difference
$22.03
less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$700
To$670
↓ $30.00
1 Bed
From$800
To$800
→ $0
2 Bed
From$1,000
To$920
↓ $80.00
3 Bed
From$1,320
To$1,190
↓ $130
De Soto, ILZIP-level data

1BR range: $800–$800/mo

Smith Center, KSZIP-level data

1BR range: $800–$800/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500
Monthly in De Soto, IL
$7,034
Monthly in Smith Center, KS
$466
Difference

Home Values

De Soto
Smith Center
$106K
Median Value
$106K
↑ +11.3%
YoY Change
↓ -1.9%
↑ +37.3%
5-Year Change
↑ +45.3%
Calculate payment - De SotoCalculate payment - Smith Center

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↓ $993
More taxes
Monthly Difference
$82.75
Less take-home
Effective Rate Diff
0.7%
Rate difference

De Soto, IL

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Illinois State Tax
Effective: 5.0%
$7.4K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 29.6%
$44.4K
Take-Home Pay
$8,797/month
$105.6K

Smith Center, KS

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Kansas State Tax
Effective: 5.6%
$8.4K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 30.3%
$45.4K
Take-Home Pay
$8,714/month
$104.6K

Additional Tax Information

De Soto, IL Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.8%
Property Tax:2.2%

Smith Center, KS Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.7%
Property Tax:1.3%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

Environment

De Soto
Smith Center
54 Moderate
Air Quality
41 Good
38%
Good Air Days
83.7%
99 High
Climate Risk
91 Moderate
🌊🌡🫨
Top Hazards
🌪💨
▲+3.0°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.3°F
39 days
Heat Days >95°F
38 days
▲+3.0°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.3°F
39 days
Heat Days >95°F
38 days

Before moving from De Soto, IL to Smith Center, KS

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Smith Center, KS for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in De Soto, IL. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
  2. Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
  3. Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
  4. Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your De Soto to Smith Center moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Smith Center, KS by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: De Soto, IL vs Smith Center, KS

How do the cost estimates for De Soto, IL and Smith Center, KS compare?

Smith Center, KS has a modeled overall cost index 8.1% lower than De Soto, IL. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in De Soto, IL, the model estimates $144,405 in Smith Center, KS. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for De Soto, IL and Smith Center, KS?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,000/month in De Soto, IL and $920/month in Smith Center, KS. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.

💰 See how taxes change too — compare take-home pay between Illinois and Kansas on TaxTakeHome.com

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