Grain Valley, MO vs Hickory Hills, IL: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Hickory Hills, IL has a modeled overall cost index 14.9% higher than Grain Valley, MO.

Grain Valley, MO · modeled 2BR rent
$1,490 / month
Hickory Hills, IL · modeled 2BR rent
$1,360 / 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 Grain Valley, MO and Hickory Hills, 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: $1,320/month in Hickory Hills, IL

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $165,841 in Hickory Hills, IL

Regional cost estimates: Grain Valley, MO uses Kansas City, MO. Hickory Hills, IL uses Chicago, IL. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 14.9%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$1,320
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$15.8K
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.

Grain Valley, MO

Population:17K
Cost Index:
83.3
100 = national average
Typical Home:$322K

Hickory Hills, IL

Population:14K
Cost Index:
95.7
100 = national average
Typical Home:$317K

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Grain Valley, MO

The Show-Me State

17K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Missouri, this city has a population of 17K residents.

Hickory Hills, IL

The Prairie State

14K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Illinois, this city has a population of 14K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Grain Valley, MO vs Hickory Hills, 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
↑ 39.3%
Grain Valley, MO
$2,062
Hickory Hills, IL
$2,872
Difference
$810
more
Transportation
↑ 32.2%
Grain Valley, MO
$1,323
Hickory Hills, IL
$1,748
Difference
$425
more
Other
↑ 4.6%
Grain Valley, MO
$1,749
Hickory Hills, IL
$1,829
Difference
$80.21
more
Groceries
↑ 6.0%
Grain Valley, MO
$1,074
Hickory Hills, IL
$1,138
Difference
$64.65
more
All Utilities
↓ 5.2%
Grain Valley, MO
$606
Hickory Hills, IL
$574
Difference
$31.54
less
Healthcare
↓ 4.2%
Grain Valley, MO
$687
Hickory Hills, IL
$658
Difference
$28.91
less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$1,200
To$1,130
↓ $70.00
1 Bed
From$1,310
To$1,210
↓ $100
2 Bed
From$1,490
To$1,360
↓ $130
3 Bed
From$1,940
To$1,750
↓ $190
Grain Valley, MOZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,310–$1,310/mo

Hickory Hills, ILZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,210–$1,210/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 Grain Valley, MO
$8,820
Monthly in Hickory Hills, IL
$1,320
Difference

Home Values

Grain Valley
Hickory Hills
$322K
Median Value
$317K
↓ -1.8%
YoY Change
↑ +4.7%
↑ +27%
5-Year Change
↑ +35.3%

Homes in Hickory Hills are 1% less expensive than Grain Valley

Calculate payment - Grain ValleyCalculate payment - Hickory Hills

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↑ $504
Per year
Monthly Difference
$42.00
More take-home
Effective Rate Diff
0.3%
Rate difference

Grain Valley, 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

Hickory Hills, 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

Grain Valley, MO Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.2%
Property Tax:1.0%

Hickory Hills, 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

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

Before moving from Grain Valley, MO to Hickory Hills, 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 Hickory Hills, IL for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Grain Valley, MO. 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 Grain Valley to Hickory Hills moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Grain Valley, MO vs Hickory Hills, IL

How do the cost estimates for Grain Valley, MO and Hickory Hills, IL compare?

Hickory Hills, IL has a modeled overall cost index 14.9% higher than Grain Valley, MO. 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 Grain Valley, MO, the model estimates $165,841 in Hickory Hills, 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 Grain Valley, MO and Hickory Hills, IL?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,490/month in Grain Valley, MO and $1,360/month in Hickory Hills, 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 Missouri and Illinois on TaxTakeHome.com

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