Lima, OH vs Rock Island, IL: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Rock Island, IL has a modeled overall cost index 8.9% higher than Lima, OH.

Lima, OH · modeled 2BR rent
$1,090 / month
Rock Island, IL · modeled 2BR rent
$1,120 / 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

Adjust your income and compare the budget ↓
Tap to swap

Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Lima, OH and Rock Island, 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: $477/month in Rock Island, IL

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $155,721 in Rock Island, IL

Regional cost estimates: Lima, OH uses Fort Wayne, IN. Rock Island, IL uses Madison, WI. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 8.9%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$477
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$5.7K
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.

Lima, OH

Population:35K
Cost Index:
83.8
100 = national average
Typical Home:$133K

Rock Island, IL

Population:36K
Cost Index:
91.2
100 = national average
Typical Home:$122K

Planning the move to Rock Island?

Organize packing, address changes, and moving-day tasks with a free checklist. Your progress saves in this browser. No account needed.

Plan my move with the free checklist

Lima, OH

The Buckeye State

35K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Ohio, this city has a population of 35K residents.

Rock Island, IL

The Prairie State

36K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Illinois, this city has a population of 36K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Lima, OH vs Rock Island, 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
↑ 17.3%
Lima, OH
$2,101
Rock Island, IL
$2,465
Difference
$364
more
Healthcare
↑ 14.5%
Lima, OH
$670
Rock Island, IL
$767
Difference
$97.01
more
Other
↑ 3.5%
Lima, OH
$1,721
Rock Island, IL
$1,781
Difference
$59.84
more
All Utilities
↓ 6.2%
Lima, OH
$578
Rock Island, IL
$542
Difference
$35.94
less
Groceries
↓ 3.2%
Lima, OH
$1,057
Rock Island, IL
$1,023
Difference
$33.75
less
Transportation
↑ 1.9%
Lima, OH
$1,373
Rock Island, IL
$1,399
Difference
$26.06
more

🏛️ Local Income Taxes

Lima, OH: Lima Municipal Income Tax$2,250/yr (1.5%)

Rock Island, IL has no local income tax recorded in this dataset.

Local taxes are shown separately and are not included in the living-cost totals. Coverage is incomplete; an absent entry does not establish that no tax applies.

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$830
To$800
↓ $30.00
1 Bed
From$830
To$910
↑ $80.00
2 Bed
From$1,090
To$1,120
↑ $30.00
3 Bed
From$1,320
To$1,470
↑ $150
Lima, OHZIP-level data

1BR range: $820–$880/mo

Rock Island, ILZIP-level data

1BR range: $910–$910/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 Lima, OH
$7,977
Monthly in Rock Island, IL
$477
Difference

Home Values

Lima
Rock Island
$133K
Median Value
$122K
↑ +0.9%
YoY Change
↑ +3.2%
↑ +36.6%
5-Year Change
↑ +19.8%
$76K - $183K
Price Range
$122K

Homes in Rock Island are 9% less expensive than Lima

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
$250
Less take-home
Effective Rate Diff
2.0%
Rate difference

Lima, OH

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Ohio State Tax
Effective: 3.0%
$4.4K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 27.6%
$41.4K
Take-Home Pay
$9,047/month
$108.6K

Rock Island, 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

Lima, OH Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.2%
Property Tax:1.6%

Rock Island, 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

Lima
Rock Island
45 Good
Air Quality
42 Good
62.6%
Good Air Days
72.1%
91 Moderate
Climate Risk
94 Moderate
🌊🌪💨
Top Hazards
🌊🌪💨
▲+3.1°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.4°F
17 days
Heat Days >95°F
10 days
▲+3.1°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.4°F
17 days
Heat Days >95°F
10 days

Before moving from Lima, OH to Rock Island, 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 Rock Island, IL for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Lima, OH. 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 Lima to Rock Island moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Lima, OH vs Rock Island, IL

How do the cost estimates for Lima, OH and Rock Island, IL compare?

Rock Island, IL has a modeled overall cost index 8.9% higher than Lima, OH. 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 Lima, OH, the model estimates $155,721 in Rock Island, 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 Lima, OH and Rock Island, IL?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,090/month in Lima, OH and $1,120/month in Rock Island, 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 Ohio and Illinois on TaxTakeHome.com

Similar cost to Rock Island, IL

Other cities in a similar price range

Want to compare different cities?

New Comparison