Galesburg, IL vs Clinton, IA: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Clinton, IA has a modeled overall cost index 13.2% higher than Galesburg, IL.

Galesburg, IL · modeled 2BR rent
$930 / month
Clinton, IA · modeled 2BR rent
$940 / 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 Galesburg, IL and Clinton, 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

$
Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated extra cost: $579/month in Clinton, IA

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $156,947 in Clinton, IA

Regional cost estimates: Galesburg, IL uses Chicago, IL. Clinton, IA uses Madison, WI. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 13.2%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$579
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$6.9K
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.

Galesburg, IL

Population:29K
Cost Index:
79.5
100 = national average
Typical Home:$97K

Clinton, IA

Population:24K
Cost Index:
90.0
100 = national average
Typical Home:$123K

Planning the move to Clinton?

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

Galesburg, IL

The Prairie State

29K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Illinois, this city has a population of 29K residents.

Clinton, IA

The Hawkeye State

24K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Iowa, this city has a population of 24K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Galesburg, IL vs Clinton, 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.

Other
↑ 18.8%
Galesburg, IL
$1,516
Clinton, IA
$1,800
Difference
$284
more
Healthcare
↑ 30.4%
Galesburg, IL
$598
Clinton, IA
$780
Difference
$182
more
Housing
↑ 4.7%
Galesburg, IL
$2,380
Clinton, IA
$2,492
Difference
$111
more
Transportation
↓ 2.4%
Galesburg, IL
$1,449
Clinton, IA
$1,414
Difference
$34.98
less
All Utilities
↑ 5.7%
Galesburg, IL
$522
Clinton, IA
$552
Difference
$29.64
more
Groceries
↑ 0.6%
Galesburg, IL
$1,035
Clinton, IA
$1,041
Difference
$6.36
more

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$700
To$650
↓ $50.00
1 Bed
From$750
To$720
↓ $30.00
2 Bed
From$930
To$940
↑ $10.00
3 Bed
From$1,210
To$1,160
↓ $50.00
Galesburg, ILZIP-level data

1BR range: $750–$750/mo

Clinton, IAZIP-level data

1BR range: $720–$720/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 Galesburg, IL
$8,079
Monthly in Clinton, IA
$579
Difference

Home Values

Galesburg
Clinton
$97K
Median Value
$123K
↑ +11.8%
YoY Change
↑ +0.5%
↑ +22.4%
5-Year Change
↑ +20.1%

Homes in Clinton are 27% more expensive than Galesburg

Calculate payment - GalesburgCalculate payment - Clinton

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

Galesburg, 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

Clinton, 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

Galesburg, IL Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.8%
Property Tax:2.2%

Clinton, 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

Galesburg
Clinton
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 Galesburg, IL to Clinton, 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 Clinton, IA for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Galesburg, 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 Galesburg to Clinton moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Galesburg, IL vs Clinton, IA

How do the cost estimates for Galesburg, IL and Clinton, IA compare?

Clinton, IA has a modeled overall cost index 13.2% higher than Galesburg, 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 Galesburg, IL, the model estimates $156,947 in Clinton, 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 Galesburg, IL and Clinton, IA?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $930/month in Galesburg, IL and $940/month in Clinton, 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

Similar cost to Clinton, IA

Other cities in a similar price range

Raleigh, NCCharlotte, NCDallas, TX

Want to compare different cities?

New Comparison