East Alton, IL vs Estherville, IA: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Estherville, IA has a modeled overall cost index 1.9% lower than East Alton, IL.

East Alton, IL · modeled 2BR rent
$990 / month
Estherville, IA · modeled 2BR rent
$960 / 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 East Alton, IL and Estherville, 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

$
Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated extra cost: $13.50/month in Estherville, IA

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $150,162 in Estherville, IA

Regional cost estimates: East Alton, IL uses St. Louis, MO. Estherville, IA uses Minneapolis, MN. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↓ 1.9%
Less expensive
Monthly Impact
$13.50
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$162
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.

East Alton, IL

Population:6K
Cost Index:
79.5
100 = national average
Typical Home:$124K

Estherville, IA

Population:6K
Cost Index:
78.0
100 = national average
Typical Home:$132K

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East Alton, IL

The Prairie State

6K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Illinois, this city has a population of 6K residents.

Estherville, IA

The Hawkeye State

6K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Iowa, this city has a population of 6K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: East Alton, IL vs Estherville, 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.

Housing
↑ 18.6%
East Alton, IL
$1,910
Estherville, IA
$2,265
Difference
$355
more
Other
↓ 12.7%
East Alton, IL
$1,823
Estherville, IA
$1,591
Difference
$232
less
Healthcare
↑ 27.6%
East Alton, IL
$625
Estherville, IA
$798
Difference
$173
more
Transportation
↓ 10.3%
East Alton, IL
$1,379
Estherville, IA
$1,237
Difference
$142
less
All Utilities
↓ 15.6%
East Alton, IL
$636
Estherville, IA
$536
Difference
$99.33
less
Groceries
↓ 3.6%
East Alton, IL
$1,127
Estherville, IA
$1,086
Difference
$40.62
less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$770
To$720
↓ $50.00
1 Bed
From$800
To$780
↓ $20.00
2 Bed
From$990
To$960
↓ $30.00
3 Bed
From$1,270
To$1,240
↓ $30.00
East Alton, ILZIP-level data

1BR range: $800–$800/mo

Estherville, IAZIP-level data

1BR range: $780–$780/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 East Alton, IL
$7,514
Monthly in Estherville, IA
$13.50
Difference

Home Values

East Alton
Estherville
$124K
Median Value
$132K
↑ +2%
YoY Change
↑ +9.9%
↑ +32.9%
5-Year Change
↑ +22.8%

Homes in Estherville are 6% more expensive than East Alton

Calculate payment - East AltonCalculate payment - Estherville

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

East Alton, 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

Estherville, 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

East Alton, IL Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.8%
Property Tax:2.2%

Estherville, 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

East Alton
Estherville
54 Moderate
Air Quality
42 Good
38%
Good Air Days
66.4%
99 High
Climate Risk
98 High
🌊🌡🫨
Top Hazards
🌊🌡🌪
▲+3.0°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.6°F
39 days
Heat Days >95°F
14 days
▲+3.0°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.6°F
39 days
Heat Days >95°F
14 days

Before moving from East Alton, IL to Estherville, 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 Estherville, IA for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in East Alton, 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 East Alton to Estherville moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: East Alton, IL vs Estherville, IA

How do the cost estimates for East Alton, IL and Estherville, IA compare?

Estherville, IA has a modeled overall cost index 1.9% lower than East Alton, 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 East Alton, IL, the model estimates $150,162 in Estherville, 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 East Alton, IL and Estherville, IA?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $990/month in East Alton, IL and $960/month in Estherville, 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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