Kirkwood, MO vs Oswego, IL: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Oswego, IL has a modeled overall cost index 17.4% higher than Kirkwood, MO.

Kirkwood, MO · modeled 2BR rent
$1,420 / month
Oswego, IL · modeled 2BR rent
$1,660 / 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 Kirkwood, MO and Oswego, 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: $1,626/month in Oswego, IL

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $169,508 in Oswego, IL

Regional cost estimates: Kirkwood, MO uses St. Louis, MO. Oswego, IL uses Chicago, IL. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 17.4%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$1,626
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$19.5K
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.

Kirkwood, MO

Population:29K
Cost Index:
82.6
100 = national average
Typical Home:$479K

Oswego, IL

Population:37K
Cost Index:
97.0
100 = national average
Typical Home:$407K

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Kirkwood, MO

The Show-Me State

29K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Missouri, this city has a population of 29K residents.

Oswego, IL

The Prairie State

37K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Illinois, this city has a population of 37K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Kirkwood, MO vs Oswego, 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
↑ 54.9%
Kirkwood, MO
$1,922
Oswego, IL
$2,977
Difference
$1,055
more
Transportation
↑ 30.6%
Kirkwood, MO
$1,388
Oswego, IL
$1,812
Difference
$425
more
Other
↑ 3.4%
Kirkwood, MO
$1,834
Oswego, IL
$1,896
Difference
$61.72
more
Healthcare
↑ 9.8%
Kirkwood, MO
$617
Oswego, IL
$677
Difference
$60.42
more
Groceries
↑ 5.4%
Kirkwood, MO
$1,112
Oswego, IL
$1,172
Difference
$60.05
more
All Utilities
↓ 5.8%
Kirkwood, MO
$627
Oswego, IL
$591
Difference
$36.15
less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$1,110
To$1,140
↑ $30.00
1 Bed
From$1,160
To$1,270
↑ $110
2 Bed
From$1,420
To$1,660
↑ $240
3 Bed
From$1,830
To$2,280
↑ $450
Kirkwood, MOZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,160–$1,160/mo

Oswego, ILZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,270–$1,270/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 Kirkwood, MO
$9,126
Monthly in Oswego, IL
$1,626
Difference

Home Values

Kirkwood
Oswego
$479K
Median Value
$407K
↑ +4.1%
YoY Change
↑ +4.1%
↑ +33.2%
5-Year Change
↑ +49.9%

Homes in Oswego are 15% less expensive than Kirkwood

Calculate payment - KirkwoodCalculate payment - Oswego

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

Kirkwood, 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

Oswego, 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

Kirkwood, MO Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.2%
Property Tax:1.0%

Oswego, 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

Kirkwood
Oswego
54 Moderate
Air Quality
54 Moderate
38%
Good Air Days
35.8%
99 High
Climate Risk
100 Very High
🌊🌡🫨
Top Hazards
🌊🌡🫨
▲+3.0°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.2°F
39 days
Heat Days >95°F
18 days
▲+3.0°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.2°F
39 days
Heat Days >95°F
18 days

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

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Kirkwood, MO vs Oswego, IL

How do the cost estimates for Kirkwood, MO and Oswego, IL compare?

Oswego, IL has a modeled overall cost index 17.4% higher than Kirkwood, 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 Kirkwood, MO, the model estimates $169,508 in Oswego, 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 Kirkwood, MO and Oswego, IL?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,420/month in Kirkwood, MO and $1,660/month in Oswego, 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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