Godfrey, IL vs Machesney Park, IL: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Machesney Park, IL has a modeled overall cost index 19.8% higher than Godfrey, IL.

Godfrey, IL · modeled 2BR rent: $1,280 / month
Machesney Park, IL · modeled 2BR rent: $1,350 / 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 Godfrey, IL and Machesney Park, 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

Current salary in Godfrey, IL

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated extra cost: $1,479/month in Machesney Park, IL

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $167,750 in Machesney Park, IL

Regional cost estimates: Godfrey, IL uses St. Louis, MO. Machesney Park, IL uses Madison, WI. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↑ 19.8%

More expensive

Monthly Impact

$1,479

Extra cost

Annual Impact

$17.8K

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.

Godfrey, IL

Population:18K

Cost Index:

81.6

100 = national average

Typical Home:$207K

Machesney Park, IL

Population:23K

Cost Index:

97.8

100 = national average

Typical Home:$194K

Planning the move to Machesney Park?

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

Godfrey, IL

The Prairie State

18K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Illinois, this city has a population of 18K residents.

Machesney Park, IL

The Prairie State

23K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Illinois, this city has a population of 23K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Godfrey, IL vs Machesney Park, 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.

Category	Godfrey, IL	Machesney Park, IL	Difference	Change
Housing	$1,918/mo	$2,803/mo	↑ $884more	46.1%
Healthcare	$619/mo	$842/mo	↑ $223more	35.9%
Transportation	$1,385/mo	$1,591/mo	↑ $205more	14.8%
Other	$1,831/mo	$2,025/mo	↑ $194more	10.6%
All Utilities	$630/mo	$595/mo	↓ $34.45less	5.5%
Groceries	$1,116/mo	$1,124/mo	↑ $7.39more	0.7%

Housing

↑ 46.1%

Godfrey, IL

$1,918

Machesney Park, IL

$2,803

Difference

$884

Healthcare

↑ 35.9%

Godfrey, IL

$619

Machesney Park, IL

$842

Difference

$223

Transportation

↑ 14.8%

Godfrey, IL

$1,385

Machesney Park, IL

$1,591

Difference

$205

Other

↑ 10.6%

Godfrey, IL

$1,831

Machesney Park, IL

$2,025

Difference

$194

All Utilities

↓ 5.5%

Godfrey, IL

$630

Machesney Park, IL

$595

Difference

$34.45

less

Groceries

↑ 0.7%

Godfrey, IL

$1,116

Machesney Park, IL

$1,124

Difference

$7.39

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$1,000

To$930

↓ $70.00

1 Bed

From$1,050

To$1,030

↓ $20.00

2 Bed

From$1,280

To$1,350

↑ $70.00

3 Bed

From$1,650

To$1,790

↑ $140

Godfrey, ILZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,050–$1,050/mo

Machesney Park, ILZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,030–$1,030/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 Godfrey, IL

$8,979

Monthly in Machesney Park, IL

$1,479

Difference

Home Values

Godfrey

Machesney Park

$207K

Median Value

$194K

↑ +4.8%

YoY Change

↑ +9.9%

↑ +35.2%

5-Year Change

↑ +58%

Homes in Machesney Park are 6% less expensive than Godfrey

Calculate payment - Godfrey Calculate payment - Machesney Park

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings

→ $0

Same taxes

Monthly Difference

Same take-home

Effective Rate Diff

0.0%

Rate difference

Godfrey, 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

Machesney Park, 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

Godfrey, IL Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.8%

Property Tax:2.2%

Machesney Park, 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

Godfrey

Machesney Park

54 Moderate

Air Quality

42 Good

38%

Good Air Days

72.1%

99 High

Climate Risk

94 Moderate

🌊🌡🫨

Top Hazards

🌊🌪💨

▲+3.0°F

2050 Outlook

▲+3.4°F

39 days

Heat Days >95°F

10 days

▲+3.0°F

2050 Outlook

▲+3.4°F

39 days

Heat Days >95°F

10 days

Before moving from Godfrey, IL to Machesney Park, IL

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

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Machesney Park, IL for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Godfrey, IL. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
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.
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.
Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Godfrey to Machesney Park moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Godfrey, IL vs Machesney Park, IL

How do the cost estimates for Godfrey, IL and Machesney Park, IL compare?

Machesney Park, IL has a modeled overall cost index 19.8% higher than Godfrey, 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 Godfrey, IL, the model estimates $167,750 in Machesney Park, 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 Godfrey, IL and Machesney Park, IL?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,280/month in Godfrey, IL and $1,350/month in Machesney Park, 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.

Similar cost to Machesney Park, IL

Other cities in a similar price range

Austin, TX Denver, CO Nashville, TN

Want to compare different cities?

New Comparison