Harvard, IL vs River Grove, IL: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

River Grove, IL has a modeled overall cost index 12.2% higher than Harvard, IL.

Harvard, IL · modeled 2BR rent
$1,450 / month
River Grove, IL · modeled 2BR rent
$1,590 / 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 Harvard, IL and River Grove, 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

$
Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated extra cost: $1,074/month in River Grove, IL

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $162,887 in River Grove, IL

Regional cost estimates: Harvard, IL uses Milwaukee, WI. River Grove, IL uses Chicago, IL. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 12.2%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$1,074
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$12.9K
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.

Harvard, IL

Population:9K
Cost Index:
84.6
100 = national average
Typical Home:$263K

River Grove, IL

Population:10K
Cost Index:
95.0
100 = national average
Typical Home:$291K

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Harvard, IL

The Prairie State

9K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Illinois, this city has a population of 9K residents.

River Grove, IL

The Prairie State

10K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Illinois, this city has a population of 10K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Harvard, IL vs River Grove, 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
↑ 50.7%
Harvard, IL
$1,851
River Grove, IL
$2,789
Difference
$938
more
Transportation
↑ 12.8%
Harvard, IL
$1,505
River Grove, IL
$1,698
Difference
$193
more
Healthcare
↓ 19.6%
Harvard, IL
$797
River Grove, IL
$641
Difference
$156
less
Other
↑ 3.3%
Harvard, IL
$1,719
River Grove, IL
$1,776
Difference
$57.38
more
Groceries
↑ 4.3%
Harvard, IL
$1,064
River Grove, IL
$1,110
Difference
$45.63
more
All Utilities
↓ 0.7%
Harvard, IL
$564
River Grove, IL
$560
Difference
$3.99
less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$1,200
To$1,320
↑ $120
1 Bed
From$1,290
To$1,410
↑ $120
2 Bed
From$1,450
To$1,590
↑ $140
3 Bed
From$1,870
To$2,050
↑ $180
Harvard, ILZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,290–$1,290/mo

River Grove, ILZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,410–$1,410/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 Harvard, IL
$8,574
Monthly in River Grove, IL
$1,074
Difference

Home Values

Harvard
River Grove
$263K
Median Value
$291K
↑ +4.3%
YoY Change
↑ +0.9%
↑ +40.1%
5-Year Change
↑ +32%

Homes in River Grove are 11% more expensive than Harvard

Calculate payment - HarvardCalculate payment - River Grove

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
$0
Same take-home
Effective Rate Diff
0.0%
Rate difference

Harvard, 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

River Grove, 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

Harvard, IL Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.8%
Property Tax:2.2%

River Grove, 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

Harvard
River Grove
43 Good
Air Quality
54 Moderate
68.6%
Good Air Days
35.8%
98 High
Climate Risk
100 Very High
🌊🌡🌪
Top Hazards
🌊🌡🫨
▲+3.3°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.2°F
13 days
Heat Days >95°F
18 days
▲+3.3°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.2°F
13 days
Heat Days >95°F
18 days

Before moving from Harvard, IL to River Grove, 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 River Grove, IL for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Harvard, 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 Harvard to River Grove moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Harvard, IL vs River Grove, IL

How do the cost estimates for Harvard, IL and River Grove, IL compare?

River Grove, IL has a modeled overall cost index 12.2% higher than Harvard, 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 Harvard, IL, the model estimates $162,887 in River Grove, 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 Harvard, IL and River Grove, IL?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,450/month in Harvard, IL and $1,590/month in River Grove, 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.

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