Forrest, IL vs Appleton City, MO: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Appleton City, MO has a modeled overall cost index 7.7% lower than Forrest, IL.

Forrest, IL · modeled 2BR rent
$920 / month
Appleton City, MO · modeled 2BR rent
$890 / 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 Forrest, IL and Appleton City, MO 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 savings: $780/month in Appleton City, MO

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $140,644 in Appleton City, MO

Regional cost estimates: Forrest, IL uses Chicago, IL. Appleton City, MO uses Kansas City, MO. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↓ 7.7%
Less expensive
Monthly Impact
$780
Savings
Annual Impact
$9.4K
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.

Forrest, IL

Population:1K
Cost Index:
81.3
100 = national average
Typical Home:$157K

Appleton City, MO

Population:1K
Cost Index:
75.0
100 = national average
Typical Home:$166K

Planning the move to Appleton City?

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

Forrest, IL

The Prairie State

1K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Illinois, this city has a population of 1K residents.

Appleton City, MO

The Show-Me State

1K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Missouri, this city has a population of 1K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Forrest, IL vs Appleton City, MO

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
↓ 23.9%
Forrest, IL
$2,388
Appleton City, MO
$1,816
Difference
$571
less
Transportation
↓ 19.8%
Forrest, IL
$1,454
Appleton City, MO
$1,166
Difference
$288
less
All Utilities
↑ 8.6%
Forrest, IL
$518
Appleton City, MO
$562
Difference
$44.54
more
Healthcare
↑ 7.5%
Forrest, IL
$593
Appleton City, MO
$638
Difference
$44.33
more
Groceries
↓ 2.9%
Forrest, IL
$1,027
Appleton City, MO
$997
Difference
$29.78
less
Other
↑ 1.3%
Forrest, IL
$1,521
Appleton City, MO
$1,541
Difference
$20.25
more

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$630
To$620
↓ $10.00
1 Bed
From$700
To$680
↓ $20.00
2 Bed
From$920
To$890
↓ $30.00
3 Bed
From$1,140
To$1,080
↓ $60.00
Forrest, ILZIP-level data

1BR range: $700–$700/mo

Appleton City, MOZIP-level data

1BR range: $680–$680/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 Forrest, IL
$6,720
Monthly in Appleton City, MO
$780
Difference

Home Values

Forrest
Appleton City
$157K
Median Value
$166K
↑ +13.1%
YoY Change
↓ -1%
↑ +63.9%
5-Year Change
↑ +40%

Homes in Appleton City are 5% more expensive than Forrest

Calculate payment - ForrestCalculate payment - Appleton City

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↓ $504
More taxes
Monthly Difference
$42.00
Less take-home
Effective Rate Diff
0.3%
Rate difference

Forrest, 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

Appleton City, MO

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Missouri State Tax
Effective: 5.3%
$7.9K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 30.0%
$44.9K
Take-Home Pay
$8,755/month
$105.1K

Additional Tax Information

Forrest, IL Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.8%
Property Tax:2.2%

Appleton City, MO Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.2%
Property Tax:1.0%

💡 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

Forrest
Appleton City
54 Moderate
Air Quality
46 Good
35.8%
Good Air Days
59.3%
100 Very High
Climate Risk
97 High
🌊🌡🫨
Top Hazards
🌊🌡🌪
▲+3.2°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.3°F
18 days
Heat Days >95°F
44 days
▲+3.2°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.3°F
18 days
Heat Days >95°F
44 days

Before moving from Forrest, IL to Appleton City, MO

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

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Appleton City, MO for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Forrest, 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 Forrest to Appleton City moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Appleton City, MO by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Forrest, IL vs Appleton City, MO

How do the cost estimates for Forrest, IL and Appleton City, MO compare?

Appleton City, MO has a modeled overall cost index 7.7% lower than Forrest, 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 Forrest, IL, the model estimates $140,644 in Appleton City, MO. 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 Forrest, IL and Appleton City, MO?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $920/month in Forrest, IL and $890/month in Appleton City, MO. 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 Missouri on TaxTakeHome.com

Similar cost to Appleton City, MO

Other cities in a similar price range

Indianapolis, INSt. Louis, MO

Want to compare different cities?

New Comparison