Forest City, IA vs Fairbury, IL: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Fairbury, IL has a modeled overall cost index 6.2% higher than Forest City, IA.

Forest City, IA · modeled 2BR rent
$970 / month
Fairbury, IL · modeled 2BR rent
$980 / 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 Forest City, IA and Fairbury, 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 extra cost: $762/month in Fairbury, IL

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $159,149 in Fairbury, IL

Regional cost estimates: Forest City, IA uses Des Moines, IA. Fairbury, IL uses Chicago, IL. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 6.2%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$762
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$9.1K
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.

Forest City, IA

Population:4K
Cost Index:
76.7
100 = national average
Typical Home:$175K

Fairbury, IL

Population:4K
Cost Index:
81.4
100 = national average
Typical Home:$181K

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Forest City, IA

The Hawkeye State

4K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Iowa, this city has a population of 4K residents.

Fairbury, IL

The Prairie State

4K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Illinois, this city has a population of 4K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Forest City, IA vs Fairbury, 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
↑ 30.4%
Forest City, IA
$2,018
Fairbury, IL
$2,631
Difference
$613
more
Transportation
↑ 19.5%
Forest City, IA
$1,341
Fairbury, IL
$1,602
Difference
$261
more
Healthcare
↓ 18.0%
Forest City, IA
$796
Fairbury, IL
$653
Difference
$143
less
Groceries
↑ 6.4%
Forest City, IA
$1,063
Fairbury, IL
$1,131
Difference
$68.13
more
Other
↓ 3.3%
Forest City, IA
$1,733
Fairbury, IL
$1,676
Difference
$57.68
less
All Utilities
↑ 3.9%
Forest City, IA
$549
Fairbury, IL
$570
Difference
$21.15
more

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$720
To$700
↓ $20.00
1 Bed
From$770
To$760
↓ $10.00
2 Bed
From$970
To$980
↑ $10.00
3 Bed
From$1,280
To$1,290
↑ $10.00
Forest City, IAZIP-level data

1BR range: $770–$770/mo

Fairbury, ILZIP-level data

1BR range: $760–$760/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 Forest City, IA
$8,262
Monthly in Fairbury, IL
$762
Difference

Home Values

Forest City
Fairbury
$175K
Median Value
$181K
↑ +2.8%
YoY Change
↑ +11.4%
↑ +24.9%
5-Year Change
↑ +51.4%

Homes in Fairbury are 3% more expensive than Forest City

Calculate payment - Forest CityCalculate payment - Fairbury

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↑ $3.3K
Per year
Monthly Difference
$273
More take-home
Effective Rate Diff
2.2%
Rate difference

Forest City, 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

Fairbury, 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

Forest City, IA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.4%
Property Tax:1.5%

Fairbury, 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

Forest City
Fairbury
45 Good
Air Quality
54 Moderate
67.5%
Good Air Days
35.8%
92 Moderate
Climate Risk
100 Very High
🌡☀🌪
Top Hazards
🌊🌡🫨
▲+3.4°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.2°F
25 days
Heat Days >95°F
18 days
▲+3.4°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.2°F
25 days
Heat Days >95°F
18 days

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

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Forest City, IA vs Fairbury, IL

How do the cost estimates for Forest City, IA and Fairbury, IL compare?

Fairbury, IL has a modeled overall cost index 6.2% higher than Forest City, IA. 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 Forest City, IA, the model estimates $159,149 in Fairbury, 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 Forest City, IA and Fairbury, IL?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $970/month in Forest City, IA and $980/month in Fairbury, 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.

💰 See how taxes change too — compare take-home pay between Iowa and Illinois on TaxTakeHome.com

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