Liberal, KS vs East Moline, IL: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

East Moline, IL has a modeled overall cost index 20.3% higher than Liberal, KS.

Liberal, KS · modeled 2BR rent
$1,000 / month
East Moline, IL · modeled 2BR rent
$1,030 / 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 Liberal, KS and East Moline, 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: $1,423/month in East Moline, IL

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $167,079 in East Moline, IL

Regional cost estimates: Liberal, KS uses Wichita, KS. East Moline, IL uses Madison, WI. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 20.3%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$1,423
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$17.1K
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.

Liberal, KS

Population:19K
Cost Index:
74.5
100 = national average
Typical Home:$141K

East Moline, IL

Population:21K
Cost Index:
89.6
100 = national average
Typical Home:$142K

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Liberal, KS

The Sunflower State

19K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Kansas, this city has a population of 19K residents.

East Moline, IL

The Prairie State

21K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Illinois, this city has a population of 21K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Liberal, KS vs East Moline, 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
↑ 47.1%
Liberal, KS
$1,870
East Moline, IL
$2,750
Difference
$880
more
Transportation
↑ 15.3%
Liberal, KS
$1,354
East Moline, IL
$1,561
Difference
$207
more
Healthcare
↑ 22.5%
Liberal, KS
$705
East Moline, IL
$863
Difference
$158
more
Other
↑ 7.6%
Liberal, KS
$1,848
East Moline, IL
$1,987
Difference
$139
more
Groceries
↑ 7.1%
Liberal, KS
$1,076
East Moline, IL
$1,152
Difference
$75.92
more
All Utilities
↓ 5.8%
Liberal, KS
$648
East Moline, IL
$610
Difference
$37.67
less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$730
To$740
↑ $10.00
1 Bed
From$770
To$840
↑ $70.00
2 Bed
From$1,000
To$1,030
↑ $30.00
3 Bed
From$1,340
To$1,350
↑ $10.00
Liberal, KSZIP-level data

1BR range: $770–$770/mo

East Moline, ILZIP-level data

1BR range: $840–$840/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 Liberal, KS
$8,923
Monthly in East Moline, IL
$1,423
Difference

Home Values

Liberal
East Moline
$141K
Median Value
$142K
↑ +3.2%
YoY Change
↑ +6.9%
↑ +20.3%
5-Year Change
↑ +26.1%

Homes in East Moline are 1% more expensive than Liberal

Calculate payment - LiberalCalculate payment - East Moline

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↑ $993
Per year
Monthly Difference
$82.75
More take-home
Effective Rate Diff
0.7%
Rate difference

Liberal, KS

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Kansas State Tax
Effective: 5.6%
$8.4K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 30.3%
$45.4K
Take-Home Pay
$8,714/month
$104.6K

East Moline, 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

Liberal, KS Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.7%
Property Tax:1.3%

East Moline, 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

Liberal
East Moline
43 Good
Air Quality
42 Good
75.1%
Good Air Days
72.1%
97 High
Climate Risk
94 Moderate
🌊🌡🌪
Top Hazards
🌊🌪💨
▲+3.1°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.4°F
61 days
Heat Days >95°F
10 days
▲+3.1°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.4°F
61 days
Heat Days >95°F
10 days

Before moving from Liberal, KS to East Moline, 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 East Moline, IL for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Liberal, KS. 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 Liberal to East Moline moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Liberal, KS vs East Moline, IL

How do the cost estimates for Liberal, KS and East Moline, IL compare?

East Moline, IL has a modeled overall cost index 20.3% higher than Liberal, KS. 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 Liberal, KS, the model estimates $167,079 in East Moline, 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 Liberal, KS and East Moline, IL?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,000/month in Liberal, KS and $1,030/month in East Moline, 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 Kansas and Illinois on TaxTakeHome.com

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