Dunlap, IL vs Blue Grass, IA: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Blue Grass, IA has a modeled overall cost index 3.0% higher than Dunlap, IL.

Dunlap, IL · modeled 2BR rent
$1,420 / month
Blue Grass, IA · modeled 2BR rent
$1,470 / 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 Dunlap, IL and Blue Grass, IA 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

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Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $41.93/month in Blue Grass, IA

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $149,497 in Blue Grass, IA

Regional cost estimates: Dunlap, IL uses Chicago, IL. Blue Grass, IA uses Madison, WI. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 3.0%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$41.93
Savings
Annual Impact
$503
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.

Dunlap, IL

Population:2K
Cost Index:
75.3
100 = national average
Typical Home:$363K

Blue Grass, IA

Population:2K
Cost Index:
77.6
100 = national average
Typical Home:$333K

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Dunlap, IL

The Prairie State

2K
Population
State Tax
Yes

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

Blue Grass, IA

The Hawkeye State

2K
Population
State Tax
Yes

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

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Dunlap, IL vs Blue Grass, IA

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.

Transportation
↓ 11.2%
Dunlap, IL
$1,438
Blue Grass, IA
$1,276
Difference
$161
less
Healthcare
↑ 24.4%
Dunlap, IL
$610
Blue Grass, IA
$759
Difference
$149
more
Other
↑ 8.0%
Dunlap, IL
$1,504
Blue Grass, IA
$1,625
Difference
$121
more
Housing
↓ 4.8%
Dunlap, IL
$2,362
Blue Grass, IA
$2,249
Difference
$112
less
Groceries
↓ 4.0%
Dunlap, IL
$1,055
Blue Grass, IA
$1,012
Difference
$42.50
less
All Utilities
↑ 0.8%
Dunlap, IL
$532
Blue Grass, IA
$536
Difference
$4.26
more

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$1,040
To$1,050
↑ $10.00
1 Bed
From$1,120
To$1,190
↑ $70.00
2 Bed
From$1,420
To$1,470
↑ $50.00
3 Bed
From$1,840
To$1,920
↑ $80.00
Dunlap, ILZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,120–$1,120/mo

Blue Grass, IAZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,190–$1,190/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 Dunlap, IL
$7,458
Monthly in Blue Grass, IA
$41.93
Difference

Home Values

Dunlap
Blue Grass
$363K
Median Value
$333K
↑ +6.8%
YoY Change
↑ +4.9%
↑ +41.9%
5-Year Change
↑ +32.4%

Homes in Blue Grass are 8% less expensive than Dunlap

Calculate payment - DunlapCalculate payment - Blue Grass

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↓ $3.3K
More taxes
Monthly Difference
$273
Less take-home
Effective Rate Diff
2.2%
Rate difference

Dunlap, 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

Blue Grass, IA

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Iowa State Tax
Effective: 7.1%
$10.7K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 31.8%
$47.7K
Take-Home Pay
$8,524/month
$102.3K

Additional Tax Information

Dunlap, IL Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.8%
Property Tax:2.2%

Blue Grass, IA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.4%
Property Tax:1.5%

💡 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

Dunlap
Blue Grass
54 Moderate
Air Quality
42 Good
35.8%
Good Air Days
72.1%
100 Very High
Climate Risk
94 Moderate
🌊🌡🫨
Top Hazards
🌊🌪💨
▲+3.2°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.4°F
18 days
Heat Days >95°F
10 days
▲+3.2°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.4°F
18 days
Heat Days >95°F
10 days

Before moving from Dunlap, IL to Blue Grass, IA

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

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Blue Grass, IA for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Dunlap, 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 Dunlap to Blue Grass moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Blue Grass, IA by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Dunlap, IL vs Blue Grass, IA

How do the cost estimates for Dunlap, IL and Blue Grass, IA compare?

Blue Grass, IA has a modeled overall cost index 3.0% higher than Dunlap, 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 Dunlap, IL, the model estimates $149,497 in Blue Grass, IA. 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 Dunlap, IL and Blue Grass, IA?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,420/month in Dunlap, IL and $1,470/month in Blue Grass, IA. 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 Iowa on TaxTakeHome.com

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