East Chicago, IN vs Clinton, IA: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Clinton, IA has a modeled overall cost index 7.3% lower than East Chicago, IN.

East Chicago, IN · modeled 2BR rent: $1,040 / month
Clinton, IA · modeled 2BR rent: $940 / 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 Chicago, IN and Clinton, 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

Current salary in East Chicago, IN

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $701/month in Clinton, IA

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $141,587 in Clinton, IA

Regional cost estimates: East Chicago, IN uses Chicago, IL. Clinton, IA uses Madison, WI. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↓ 7.3%

Less expensive

Monthly Impact

$701

Savings

Annual Impact

$8.4K

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 Chicago, IN

Population:26K

Cost Index:

97.1

100 = national average

Typical Home:$125K

Clinton, IA

Population:24K

Cost Index:

90.0

100 = national average

Typical Home:$123K

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East Chicago, IN

The Hoosier State

26K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Indiana, this city has a population of 26K residents.

Clinton, IA

The Hawkeye State

24K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Iowa, this city has a population of 24K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: East Chicago, IN vs Clinton, 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.

Category	East Chicago, IN	Clinton, IA	Difference	Change
Housing	$2,447/mo	$2,097/mo	↓ $350less	14.3%
Transportation	$1,490/mo	$1,190/mo	↓ $300less	20.1%
Healthcare	$556/mo	$657/mo	↑ $100more	18.0%
Groceries	$963/mo	$876/mo	↓ $86.37less	9.0%
Other	$1,559/mo	$1,515/mo	↓ $43.58less	2.8%
All Utilities	$486/mo	$464/mo	↓ $21.31less	4.4%

Housing

↓ 14.3%

East Chicago, IN

$2,447

Clinton, IA

$2,097

Difference

$350

less

Transportation

↓ 20.1%

East Chicago, IN

$1,490

Clinton, IA

$1,190

Difference

$300

less

Healthcare

↑ 18.0%

East Chicago, IN

$556

Clinton, IA

$657

Difference

$100

Groceries

↓ 9.0%

East Chicago, IN

$963

Clinton, IA

$876

Difference

$86.37

less

Other

↓ 2.8%

East Chicago, IN

$1,559

Clinton, IA

$1,515

Difference

$43.58

less

All Utilities

↓ 4.4%

East Chicago, IN

$486

Clinton, IA

$464

Difference

$21.31

less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$760

To$650

↓ $110

1 Bed

From$850

To$720

↓ $130

2 Bed

From$1,040

To$940

↓ $100

3 Bed

From$1,270

To$1,160

↓ $110

East Chicago, INZIP-level data

1BR range: $850–$850/mo

Clinton, IAZIP-level data

1BR range: $720–$720/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 Chicago, IN

$6,799

Monthly in Clinton, IA

$701

Difference

Home Values

East Chicago

Clinton

$125K

Median Value

$123K

↓ -3.9%

YoY Change

↑ +0.5%

↑ +52.3%

5-Year Change

↑ +20.1%

Homes in Clinton are 2% less expensive than East Chicago

Calculate payment - East Chicago Calculate payment - Clinton

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings

↓ $5.9K

More taxes

Monthly Difference

$488

Less take-home

Effective Rate Diff

3.9%

Rate difference

East Chicago, IN

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

Indiana State Tax

Effective: 3.2%

$4.8K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 27.9%

$41.9K

Take-Home Pay

$9,012/month

$108.1K

Clinton, 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 Chicago, IN Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.0%

Property Tax:0.9%

Clinton, 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 Chicago

Clinton

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 East Chicago, IN to Clinton, IA

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

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Clinton, IA for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in East Chicago, IN. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
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.
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.
Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your East Chicago to Clinton moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: East Chicago, IN vs Clinton, IA

How do the cost estimates for East Chicago, IN and Clinton, IA compare?

Clinton, IA has a modeled overall cost index 7.3% lower than East Chicago, IN. 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 Chicago, IN, the model estimates $141,587 in Clinton, 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 Chicago, IN and Clinton, IA?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,040/month in East Chicago, IN and $940/month in Clinton, 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 Indiana and Iowa on TaxTakeHome.com