Dixon, IL vs Charleston, IL: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Charleston, IL has a modeled overall cost index 11.7% lower than Dixon, IL.

Dixon, IL · modeled 2BR rent
$920 / month
Charleston, IL · modeled 2BR rent
$1,000 / 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 Dixon, IL and Charleston, IL 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: $909/month in Charleston, IL

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $139,089 in Charleston, IL

Regional cost estimates: Dixon, IL uses Madison, WI. Charleston, IL uses Indianapolis, IN. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↓ 11.7%
Less expensive
Monthly Impact
$909
Savings
Annual Impact
$10.9K
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.

Dixon, IL

Population:15K
Cost Index:
91.6
100 = national average
Typical Home:$165K

Charleston, IL

Population:17K
Cost Index:
80.9
100 = national average
Typical Home:$156K

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Dixon, IL

The Prairie State

15K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Illinois, this city has a population of 15K residents.

Charleston, IL

The Prairie State

17K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Illinois, this city has a population of 17K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Dixon, IL vs Charleston, IL

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.

Housing
↓ 24.6%
Dixon, IL
$2,319
Charleston, IL
$1,749
Difference
$570
less
Transportation
↓ 10.0%
Dixon, IL
$1,316
Charleston, IL
$1,185
Difference
$131
less
Healthcare
↓ 16.3%
Dixon, IL
$720
Charleston, IL
$602
Difference
$118
less
Other
↓ 5.4%
Dixon, IL
$1,676
Charleston, IL
$1,585
Difference
$90.20
less
All Utilities
↑ 2.1%
Dixon, IL
$509
Charleston, IL
$520
Difference
$10.80
more
Groceries
↓ 1.1%
Dixon, IL
$961
Charleston, IL
$950
Difference
$10.27
less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$640
To$690
↑ $50.00
1 Bed
From$800
To$790
↓ $10.00
2 Bed
From$920
To$1,000
↑ $80.00
3 Bed
From$1,260
To$1,310
↑ $50.00
Dixon, ILZIP-level data

1BR range: $800–$800/mo

Charleston, ILZIP-level data

1BR range: $790–$790/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 Dixon, IL
$6,591
Monthly in Charleston, IL
$909
Difference

Home Values

Dixon
Charleston
$165K
Median Value
$156K
↑ +7.8%
YoY Change
↑ +8.4%
↑ +35.9%
5-Year Change
↑ +35.6%

Homes in Charleston are 6% less expensive than Dixon

Calculate payment - DixonCalculate payment - Charleston

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
→ $0
Same taxes
Monthly Difference
$0
Same take-home
Effective Rate Diff
0.0%
Rate difference

Dixon, 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

Charleston, 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

Additional Tax Information

Dixon, IL Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.8%
Property Tax:2.2%

Charleston, IL Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.8%
Property Tax:2.2%

💡 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

Dixon
Charleston
42 Good
Air Quality
54 Moderate
72.1%
Good Air Days
36.6%
94 Moderate
Climate Risk
97 High
🌊🌪💨
Top Hazards
🌊🌡🌪
▲+3.4°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.1°F
10 days
Heat Days >95°F
18 days
▲+3.4°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.1°F
10 days
Heat Days >95°F
18 days

Before moving from Dixon, IL to Charleston, IL

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

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Charleston, IL for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Dixon, 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 Dixon to Charleston moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Charleston, IL by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Dixon, IL vs Charleston, IL

How do the cost estimates for Dixon, IL and Charleston, IL compare?

Charleston, IL has a modeled overall cost index 11.7% lower than Dixon, 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 Dixon, IL, the model estimates $139,089 in Charleston, IL. 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 Dixon, IL and Charleston, IL?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $920/month in Dixon, IL and $1,000/month in Charleston, IL. 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.

Where your money goes further

Cities cheaper than Dixon, IL on a $150.0K salary

1.St. Louis, MO
Save $313/mo
2.Indianapolis, IN
Save $284/mo
3.Pittsburgh, PA
Save $111/mo
4.San Antonio, TX
Save $30.17/mo

Similar cost to Charleston, IL

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