Fosston, MN vs Clifton, IL: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Clifton, IL has a modeled overall cost index 27.8% higher than Fosston, MN.

Fosston, MN · modeled 2BR rent
$1,010 / month
Clifton, IL · modeled 2BR rent
$1,020 / 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 Fosston, MN and Clifton, 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

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Estimated extra cost: $2,098/month in Clifton, IL

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $175,179 in Clifton, IL

Regional cost estimates: Fosston, MN uses Minneapolis, MN. Clifton, IL uses Chicago, IL. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 27.8%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$2,098
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$25.2K
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.

Fosston, MN

Population:1K
Cost Index:
68.2
100 = national average
Typical Home:$209K

Clifton, IL

Population:1K
Cost Index:
87.1
100 = national average
Typical Home:$210K

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Fosston, MN

The North Star State

1K
Population
State Tax
Yes

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

Clifton, IL

The Prairie State

1K
Population
State Tax
Yes

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

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Fosston, MN vs Clifton, 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
↑ 39.5%
Fosston, MN
$2,211
Clifton, IL
$3,086
Difference
$874
more
Transportation
↑ 55.5%
Fosston, MN
$1,208
Clifton, IL
$1,879
Difference
$671
more
Other
↑ 26.5%
Fosston, MN
$1,553
Clifton, IL
$1,965
Difference
$412
more
Groceries
↑ 13.0%
Fosston, MN
$1,134
Clifton, IL
$1,282
Difference
$148
more
Healthcare
↓ 11.1%
Fosston, MN
$833
Clifton, IL
$741
Difference
$92.26
less
All Utilities
↑ 15.4%
Fosston, MN
$560
Clifton, IL
$646
Difference
$86.45
more

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$800
To$770
↓ $30.00
1 Bed
From$810
To$780
↓ $30.00
2 Bed
From$1,010
To$1,020
↑ $10.00
3 Bed
From$1,400
To$1,260
↓ $140
Fosston, MNZIP-level data

1BR range: $810–$810/mo

Clifton, ILZIP-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 Fosston, MN
$9,598
Monthly in Clifton, IL
$2,098
Difference

Home Values

Fosston
Clifton
$209K
Median Value
$210K
↑ +5.8%
YoY Change
↑ +8%
↑ +31.6%
5-Year Change
↑ +37.3%
Calculate payment - FosstonCalculate payment - Clifton

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↑ $3.0K
Per year
Monthly Difference
$251
More take-home
Effective Rate Diff
2.0%
Rate difference

Fosston, MN

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Minnesota State Tax
Effective: 7.0%
$10.4K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 31.6%
$47.4K
Take-Home Pay
$8,546/month
$102.6K

Clifton, 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

Fosston, MN Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.0%
Property Tax:1.1%

Clifton, 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

Fosston
Clifton
42 Good
Air Quality
54 Moderate
66.4%
Good Air Days
35.8%
98 High
Climate Risk
100 Very High
🌊🌡🌪
Top Hazards
🌊🌡🫨
▲+3.6°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.2°F
14 days
Heat Days >95°F
18 days
▲+3.6°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.2°F
14 days
Heat Days >95°F
18 days

Before moving from Fosston, MN to Clifton, 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 Clifton, IL for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Fosston, MN. 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 Fosston to Clifton moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Fosston, MN vs Clifton, IL

How do the cost estimates for Fosston, MN and Clifton, IL compare?

Clifton, IL has a modeled overall cost index 27.8% higher than Fosston, MN. 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 Fosston, MN, the model estimates $175,179 in Clifton, 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 Fosston, MN and Clifton, IL?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,010/month in Fosston, MN and $1,020/month in Clifton, 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 Minnesota and Illinois on TaxTakeHome.com

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