Lena, IL vs Mountain View, MO: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Mountain View, MO has a modeled overall cost index 22.9% lower than Lena, IL.

Lena, IL · modeled 2BR rent
$920 / month
Mountain View, MO · modeled 2BR rent
$890 / 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 Lena, IL and Mountain View, MO 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 savings: $1,636/month in Mountain View, MO

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $130,370 in Mountain View, MO

Regional cost estimates: Lena, IL uses Madison, WI. Mountain View, MO uses St. Louis, MO. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↓ 22.9%
Less expensive
Monthly Impact
$1,636
Savings
Annual Impact
$19.6K
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.

Lena, IL

Population:3K
Cost Index:
92.2
100 = national average
Typical Home:$197K

Mountain View, MO

Population:3K
Cost Index:
71.1
100 = national average
Typical Home:$188K

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Lena, IL

The Prairie State

3K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Illinois, this city has a population of 3K residents.

Mountain View, MO

The Show-Me State

3K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Missouri, this city has a population of 3K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Lena, IL vs Mountain View, MO

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
↓ 36.8%
Lena, IL
$2,321
Mountain View, MO
$1,467
Difference
$854
less
Other
↓ 16.5%
Lena, IL
$1,677
Mountain View, MO
$1,400
Difference
$277
less
Transportation
↓ 19.6%
Lena, IL
$1,317
Mountain View, MO
$1,059
Difference
$258
less
Healthcare
↓ 29.3%
Lena, IL
$718
Mountain View, MO
$508
Difference
$211
less
Groceries
↓ 4.6%
Lena, IL
$959
Mountain View, MO
$915
Difference
$43.62
less
All Utilities
↑ 1.6%
Lena, IL
$508
Mountain View, MO
$516
Difference
$8.32
more

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$690
To$620
↓ $70.00
1 Bed
From$700
To$680
↓ $20.00
2 Bed
From$920
To$890
↓ $30.00
3 Bed
From$1,120
To$1,200
↑ $80.00
Lena, ILZIP-level data

1BR range: $700–$700/mo

Mountain View, MOZIP-level data

1BR range: $680–$680/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 Lena, IL
$5,864
Monthly in Mountain View, MO
$1,636
Difference

Home Values

Lena
Mountain View
$197K
Median Value
$188K
↑ +10.8%
YoY Change
↑ +4.2%
↑ +60.3%
5-Year Change
↑ +49.4%

Homes in Mountain View are 4% less expensive than Lena

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↓ $504
More taxes
Monthly Difference
$42.00
Less take-home
Effective Rate Diff
0.3%
Rate difference

Lena, 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

Mountain View, 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

Additional Tax Information

Lena, IL Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.8%
Property Tax:2.2%

Mountain View, MO Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.2%
Property Tax:1.0%

💡 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

Lena
Mountain View
42 Good
Air Quality
54 Moderate
72.1%
Good Air Days
38%
94 Moderate
Climate Risk
99 High
🌊🌪💨
Top Hazards
🌊🌡🫨
▲+3.4°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.0°F
10 days
Heat Days >95°F
39 days
▲+3.4°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.0°F
10 days
Heat Days >95°F
39 days

Before moving from Lena, IL to Mountain View, MO

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

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Mountain View, MO for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Lena, 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 Lena to Mountain View moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Mountain View, MO by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Lena, IL vs Mountain View, MO

How do the cost estimates for Lena, IL and Mountain View, MO compare?

Mountain View, MO has a modeled overall cost index 22.9% lower than Lena, 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 Lena, IL, the model estimates $130,370 in Mountain View, MO. 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 Lena, IL and Mountain View, MO?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $920/month in Lena, IL and $890/month in Mountain View, MO. 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 Missouri on TaxTakeHome.com

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