Island Lake, IL vs St. Paul Park, MN: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

St. Paul Park, MN has a modeled overall cost index 3.0% higher than Island Lake, IL.

Island Lake, IL · modeled 2BR rent
$2,250 / month
St. Paul Park, MN · modeled 2BR rent
$2,330 / 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 Island Lake, IL and St. Paul Park, MN 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 savings: $77.90/month in St. Paul Park, MN

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $149,065 in St. Paul Park, MN

Regional cost estimates: Island Lake, IL uses Chicago, IL. St. Paul Park, MN uses Saint Paul, MN. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 3.0%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$77.90
Savings
Annual Impact
$935
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.

Island Lake, IL

Population:8K
Cost Index:
92.9
100 = national average
Typical Home:$289K

St. Paul Park, MN

Population:5K
Cost Index:
95.8
100 = national average
Typical Home:$304K

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Island Lake, IL

The Prairie State

8K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Illinois, this city has a population of 8K residents.

St. Paul Park, MN

The North Star State

5K
Population
State Tax
Yes

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

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Island Lake, IL vs St. Paul Park, MN

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.

Transportation
↓ 12.9%
Island Lake, IL
$1,481
St. Paul Park, MN
$1,290
Difference
$191
less
Healthcare
↑ 30.9%
Island Lake, IL
$565
St. Paul Park, MN
$740
Difference
$175
more
Housing
↓ 6.5%
Island Lake, IL
$2,433
St. Paul Park, MN
$2,274
Difference
$158
less
Other
↑ 4.1%
Island Lake, IL
$1,549
St. Paul Park, MN
$1,612
Difference
$62.99
more
Groceries
↑ 3.0%
Island Lake, IL
$978
St. Paul Park, MN
$1,008
Difference
$29.33
more
All Utilities
↑ 0.8%
Island Lake, IL
$493
St. Paul Park, MN
$498
Difference
$4.09
more

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$1,870
To$1,690
↓ $180
1 Bed
From$2,000
To$1,920
↓ $80.00
2 Bed
From$2,250
To$2,330
↑ $80.00
3 Bed
From$2,900
To$3,080
↑ $180
Island Lake, ILZIP-level data

1BR range: $2,000–$2,000/mo

St. Paul Park, MNZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,920–$1,920/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 Island Lake, IL
$7,422
Monthly in St. Paul Park, MN
$77.90
Difference

Home Values

Island Lake
St. Paul Park
$289K
Median Value
$304K
↑ +6%
YoY Change
↑ +1.5%
↑ +48.8%
5-Year Change
↑ +21.4%

Homes in St. Paul Park are 5% more expensive than Island Lake

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↓ $3.0K
More taxes
Monthly Difference
$251
Less take-home
Effective Rate Diff
2.0%
Rate difference

Island 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

St. Paul Park, MN

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Minnesota State Tax
Effective: 7.0%
$10.4K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 31.6%
$47.4K
Take-Home Pay
$8,546/month
$102.6K

Additional Tax Information

Island Lake, IL Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.8%
Property Tax:2.2%

St. Paul Park, MN Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.0%
Property Tax:1.1%

💡 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

Island Lake
St. Paul Park
54 Moderate
Air Quality
36 Good
35.8%
Good Air Days
72.4%
100 Very High
Climate Risk
95 High
🌊🌡🫨
Top Hazards
🌊🌡🌪
▲+3.2°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.7°F
18 days
Heat Days >95°F
14 days
▲+3.2°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.7°F
18 days
Heat Days >95°F
14 days

Before moving from Island Lake, IL to St. Paul Park, MN

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

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in St. Paul Park, MN for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Island Lake, 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 Island Lake to St. Paul Park moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to St. Paul Park, MN by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Island Lake, IL vs St. Paul Park, MN

How do the cost estimates for Island Lake, IL and St. Paul Park, MN compare?

St. Paul Park, MN has a modeled overall cost index 3.0% higher than Island Lake, 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 Island Lake, IL, the model estimates $149,065 in St. Paul Park, MN. 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 Island Lake, IL and St. Paul Park, MN?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $2,250/month in Island Lake, IL and $2,330/month in St. Paul Park, MN. 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 Minnesota on TaxTakeHome.com

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