Fulton, IL vs West Burlington, IA: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

West Burlington, IA has a modeled overall cost index 14.3% lower than Fulton, IL.

Fulton, IL · modeled 2BR rent
$1,000 / month
West Burlington, IA · modeled 2BR rent
$1,010 / 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 Fulton, IL and West Burlington, 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

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Estimated savings: $1,015/month in West Burlington, IA

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $137,817 in West Burlington, IA

Regional cost estimates: Fulton, IL uses Madison, WI. West Burlington, IA uses Des Moines, IA. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↓ 14.3%
Less expensive
Monthly Impact
$1,015
Savings
Annual Impact
$12.2K
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.

Fulton, IL

Population:4K
Cost Index:
86.3
100 = national average
Typical Home:$155K

West Burlington, IA

Population:3K
Cost Index:
74.0
100 = national average
Typical Home:$158K

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Fulton, IL

The Prairie State

4K
Population
State Tax
Yes

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

West Burlington, IA

The Hawkeye State

3K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Iowa, this city has a population of 3K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Fulton, IL vs West Burlington, 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.

Housing
↓ 24.5%
Fulton, IL
$2,299
West Burlington, IA
$1,735
Difference
$564
less
Other
↓ 10.3%
Fulton, IL
$1,661
West Burlington, IA
$1,490
Difference
$171
less
Transportation
↓ 11.7%
Fulton, IL
$1,305
West Burlington, IA
$1,153
Difference
$152
less
Groceries
↓ 5.2%
Fulton, IL
$981
West Burlington, IA
$930
Difference
$51.12
less
All Utilities
↓ 7.5%
Fulton, IL
$520
West Burlington, IA
$481
Difference
$39.13
less
Healthcare
↓ 5.2%
Fulton, IL
$735
West Burlington, IA
$697
Difference
$38.04
less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$730
To$700
↓ $30.00
1 Bed
From$780
To$770
↓ $10.00
2 Bed
From$1,000
To$1,010
↑ $10.00
3 Bed
From$1,320
To$1,300
↓ $20.00
Fulton, ILZIP-level data

1BR range: $780–$780/mo

West Burlington, IAZIP-level data

1BR range: $770–$770/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 Fulton, IL
$6,485
Monthly in West Burlington, IA
$1,015
Difference

Home Values

Fulton
West Burlington
$155K
Median Value
$158K
↑ +5.1%
YoY Change
↓ -1.6%
↑ +25.9%
5-Year Change
↑ +2.5%

Homes in West Burlington are 1% more expensive than Fulton

Calculate payment - FultonCalculate payment - West Burlington

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↓ $3.3K
More taxes
Monthly Difference
$273
Less take-home
Effective Rate Diff
2.2%
Rate difference

Fulton, 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

West Burlington, 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

Fulton, IL Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.8%
Property Tax:2.2%

West Burlington, 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

Fulton
West Burlington
42 Good
Air Quality
45 Good
72.1%
Good Air Days
67.5%
94 Moderate
Climate Risk
92 Moderate
🌊🌪💨
Top Hazards
🌡☀🌪
▲+3.4°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.4°F
10 days
Heat Days >95°F
25 days
▲+3.4°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.4°F
10 days
Heat Days >95°F
25 days

Before moving from Fulton, IL to West Burlington, IA

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

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in West Burlington, IA for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Fulton, 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 Fulton to West Burlington moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Fulton, IL vs West Burlington, IA

How do the cost estimates for Fulton, IL and West Burlington, IA compare?

West Burlington, IA has a modeled overall cost index 14.3% lower than Fulton, 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 Fulton, IL, the model estimates $137,817 in West Burlington, 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 Fulton, IL and West Burlington, IA?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,000/month in Fulton, IL and $1,010/month in West Burlington, 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 Illinois and Iowa on TaxTakeHome.com

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