Herculaneum, MO vs Wonder Lake, IL: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Wonder Lake, IL has a modeled overall cost index 3.9% higher than Herculaneum, MO.

Herculaneum, MO · modeled 2BR rent
$1,830 / month
Wonder Lake, IL · modeled 2BR rent
$1,640 / 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 Herculaneum, MO and Wonder Lake, 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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Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated extra cost: $433/month in Wonder Lake, IL

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $155,196 in Wonder Lake, IL

Regional cost estimates: Herculaneum, MO uses St. Louis, MO. Wonder Lake, IL uses Milwaukee, WI. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 3.9%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$433
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$5.2K
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.

Herculaneum, MO

Population:5K
Cost Index:
79.6
100 = national average
Typical Home:$288K

Wonder Lake, IL

Population:5K
Cost Index:
82.7
100 = national average
Typical Home:$278K

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Herculaneum, MO

The Show-Me State

5K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Missouri, this city has a population of 5K residents.

Wonder Lake, IL

The Prairie State

5K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Illinois, this city has a population of 5K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Herculaneum, MO vs Wonder Lake, 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.

Healthcare
↑ 36.0%
Herculaneum, MO
$625
Wonder Lake, IL
$850
Difference
$225
more
Transportation
↑ 15.0%
Herculaneum, MO
$1,379
Wonder Lake, IL
$1,586
Difference
$206
more
Housing
↑ 2.1%
Herculaneum, MO
$1,911
Wonder Lake, IL
$1,951
Difference
$40.03
more
All Utilities
↓ 5.4%
Herculaneum, MO
$635
Wonder Lake, IL
$601
Difference
$34.42
less
Other
↓ 0.7%
Herculaneum, MO
$1,823
Wonder Lake, IL
$1,811
Difference
$12.12
less
Groceries
↑ 0.7%
Herculaneum, MO
$1,126
Wonder Lake, IL
$1,134
Difference
$8.07
more

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$1,440
To$1,360
↓ $80.00
1 Bed
From$1,490
To$1,460
↓ $30.00
2 Bed
From$1,830
To$1,640
↓ $190
3 Bed
From$2,360
To$2,110
↓ $250
Herculaneum, MOZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,490–$1,490/mo

Wonder Lake, ILZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,460–$1,460/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 Herculaneum, MO
$7,933
Monthly in Wonder Lake, IL
$433
Difference

Home Values

Herculaneum
Wonder Lake
$288K
Median Value
$278K
↑ +5.2%
YoY Change
↑ +4.3%
↑ +44.9%
5-Year Change
↑ +42.4%

Homes in Wonder Lake are 4% less expensive than Herculaneum

Calculate payment - HerculaneumCalculate payment - Wonder Lake

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

Herculaneum, 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

Wonder Lake, 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

Herculaneum, MO Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.2%
Property Tax:1.0%

Wonder Lake, 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

Herculaneum
Wonder Lake
54 Moderate
Air Quality
43 Good
38%
Good Air Days
68.6%
99 High
Climate Risk
98 High
🌊🌡🫨
Top Hazards
🌊🌡🌪
▲+3.0°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.3°F
39 days
Heat Days >95°F
13 days
▲+3.0°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.3°F
39 days
Heat Days >95°F
13 days

Before moving from Herculaneum, MO to Wonder Lake, 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 Wonder Lake, IL for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Herculaneum, 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 Herculaneum to Wonder Lake moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Herculaneum, MO vs Wonder Lake, IL

How do the cost estimates for Herculaneum, MO and Wonder Lake, IL compare?

Wonder Lake, IL has a modeled overall cost index 3.9% higher than Herculaneum, 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 Herculaneum, MO, the model estimates $155,196 in Wonder Lake, 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 Herculaneum, MO and Wonder Lake, IL?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,830/month in Herculaneum, MO and $1,640/month in Wonder Lake, 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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