Elburn, IL vs Cottage Grove, WI: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Cottage Grove, WI has a modeled overall cost index 5.1% higher than Elburn, IL.

Elburn, IL · modeled 2BR rent: $2,110 / month
Cottage Grove, WI · modeled 2BR rent: $1,950 / 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

Adjust your income and compare the budget ↓

Tap to swap

Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Elburn, IL and Cottage Grove, WI 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 Elburn, IL

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated extra cost: $75.70/month in Cottage Grove, WI

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $150,908 in Cottage Grove, WI

Regional cost estimates: Elburn, IL uses Chicago, IL. Cottage Grove, WI uses Madison, WI. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↑ 5.1%

More expensive

Monthly Impact

$75.70

Extra cost

Annual Impact

$908

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.

Elburn, IL

Population:7K

Cost Index:

92.5

100 = national average

Typical Home:$450K

Cottage Grove, WI

Population:9K

Cost Index:

97.2

100 = national average

Typical Home:$465K

Planning the move to Cottage Grove?

Organize packing, address changes, and moving-day tasks with a free checklist. Your progress saves in this browser. No account needed.

Plan my move with the free checklist

Elburn, IL

The Prairie State

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Illinois, this city has a population of 7K residents.

Cottage Grove, WI

The Badger State

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Wisconsin, this city has a population of 9K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Elburn, IL vs Cottage Grove, WI

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	Elburn, IL	Cottage Grove, WI	Difference	Change
Other	$1,548/mo	$1,707/mo	↑ $159more	10.2%
Healthcare	$566/mo	$712/mo	↑ $145more	25.7%
Transportation	$1,480/mo	$1,341/mo	↓ $139less	9.4%
Housing	$2,431/mo	$2,363/mo	↓ $68.39less	2.8%
Groceries	$980/mo	$950/mo	↓ $29.94less	3.1%
All Utilities	$494/mo	$503/mo	↑ $9.02more	1.8%

Other

↑ 10.2%

Elburn, IL

$1,548

Cottage Grove, WI

$1,707

Difference

$159

Healthcare

↑ 25.7%

Elburn, IL

$566

Cottage Grove, WI

$712

Difference

$145

Transportation

↓ 9.4%

Elburn, IL

$1,480

Cottage Grove, WI

$1,341

Difference

$139

less

Housing

↓ 2.8%

Elburn, IL

$2,431

Cottage Grove, WI

$2,363

Difference

$68.39

less

Groceries

↓ 3.1%

Elburn, IL

$980

Cottage Grove, WI

$950

Difference

$29.94

less

All Utilities

↑ 1.8%

Elburn, IL

$494

Cottage Grove, WI

$503

Difference

$9.02

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$1,750

To$1,460

↓ $290

1 Bed

From$1,870

To$1,710

↓ $160

2 Bed

From$2,110

To$1,950

↓ $160

3 Bed

From$2,720

To$2,570

↓ $150

Elburn, ILZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,870–$1,870/mo

Cottage Grove, WIZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,710–$1,710/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 Elburn, IL

$7,576

Monthly in Cottage Grove, WI

$75.70

Difference

Home Values

Elburn

Cottage Grove

$450K

Median Value

$465K

↑ +2.1%

YoY Change

↑ +2.3%

↑ +39.1%

5-Year Change

↑ +37.9%

Homes in Cottage Grove are 3% more expensive than Elburn

Calculate payment - Elburn Calculate payment - Cottage Grove

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings

↓ $1.4K

More taxes

Monthly Difference

$119

Less take-home

Effective Rate Diff

0.9%

Rate difference

Elburn, 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

Cottage Grove, WI

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

Wisconsin State Tax

Effective: 5.9%

$8.8K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 30.6%

$45.9K

Take-Home Pay

$8,678/month

$104.1K

Additional Tax Information

Elburn, IL Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.8%

Property Tax:2.2%

Cottage Grove, WI Tax Rates

Sales Tax:5.6%

Property Tax:1.8%

💡 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

Elburn

Cottage Grove

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 Elburn, IL to Cottage Grove, WI

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

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Cottage Grove, WI for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Elburn, IL. 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 Elburn to Cottage Grove moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Cottage Grove, WI by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Elburn, IL vs Cottage Grove, WI

How do the cost estimates for Elburn, IL and Cottage Grove, WI compare?

Cottage Grove, WI has a modeled overall cost index 5.1% higher than Elburn, 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 Elburn, IL, the model estimates $150,908 in Cottage Grove, WI. 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 Elburn, IL and Cottage Grove, WI?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $2,110/month in Elburn, IL and $1,950/month in Cottage Grove, WI. 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 Wisconsin on TaxTakeHome.com