Mendota, IL vs Tell City, IN: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Tell City, IN has a modeled overall cost index 6.0% lower than Mendota, IL.

Mendota, IL · modeled 2BR rent
$1,020 / month
Tell City, IN · modeled 2BR rent
$960 / 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 Mendota, IL and Tell City, IN 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: $687/month in Tell City, IN

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $141,752 in Tell City, IN

Regional cost estimates: Mendota, IL uses Chicago, IL. Tell City, IN uses Louisville, KY. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↓ 6.0%
Less expensive
Monthly Impact
$687
Savings
Annual Impact
$8.2K
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.

Mendota, IL

Population:7K
Cost Index:
85.9
100 = national average
Typical Home:$169K

Tell City, IN

Population:7K
Cost Index:
80.8
100 = national average
Typical Home:$175K

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Mendota, IL

The Prairie State

7K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Illinois, this city has a population of 7K residents.

Tell City, IN

The Hoosier State

7K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Indiana, this city has a population of 7K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Mendota, IL vs Tell City, IN

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
↓ 21.5%
Mendota, IL
$2,406
Tell City, IN
$1,889
Difference
$517
less
Transportation
↓ 11.8%
Mendota, IL
$1,465
Tell City, IN
$1,291
Difference
$173
less
Other
↑ 2.2%
Mendota, IL
$1,533
Tell City, IN
$1,566
Difference
$33.67
more
All Utilities
↓ 4.9%
Mendota, IL
$508
Tell City, IN
$483
Difference
$24.92
less
Groceries
↓ 0.9%
Mendota, IL
$1,007
Tell City, IN
$997
Difference
$9.49
less
Healthcare
↑ 0.7%
Mendota, IL
$582
Tell City, IN
$586
Difference
$4.33
more

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$730
To$680
↓ $50.00
1 Bed
From$780
To$730
↓ $50.00
2 Bed
From$1,020
To$960
↓ $60.00
3 Bed
From$1,360
To$1,200
↓ $160
Mendota, ILZIP-level data

1BR range: $780–$780/mo

Tell City, INZIP-level data

1BR range: $730–$730/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 Mendota, IL
$6,813
Monthly in Tell City, IN
$687
Difference

Home Values

Mendota
Tell City
$169K
Median Value
$175K
↑ +10.6%
YoY Change
↑ +0.2%
↑ +45.4%
5-Year Change
↑ +40.9%

Homes in Tell City are 3% more expensive than Mendota

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↑ $2.6K
Per year
Monthly Difference
$215
More take-home
Effective Rate Diff
1.7%
Rate difference

Mendota, 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

Tell City, IN

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Indiana State Tax
Effective: 3.2%
$4.8K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 27.9%
$41.9K
Take-Home Pay
$9,012/month
$108.1K

Additional Tax Information

Mendota, IL Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.8%
Property Tax:2.2%

Tell City, IN Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.0%
Property Tax:0.9%

💡 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

Mendota
Tell City
54 Moderate
Air Quality
50 Good
35.8%
Good Air Days
50.8%
100 Very High
Climate Risk
98 High
🌊🌡🫨
Top Hazards
🌊🌡🌪
▲+3.2°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.9°F
18 days
Heat Days >95°F
37 days
▲+3.2°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.9°F
18 days
Heat Days >95°F
37 days

Before moving from Mendota, IL to Tell City, IN

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

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Tell City, IN for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Mendota, 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 Mendota to Tell City moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Tell City, IN by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Mendota, IL vs Tell City, IN

How do the cost estimates for Mendota, IL and Tell City, IN compare?

Tell City, IN has a modeled overall cost index 6.0% lower than Mendota, 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 Mendota, IL, the model estimates $141,752 in Tell City, IN. 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 Mendota, IL and Tell City, IN?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,020/month in Mendota, IL and $960/month in Tell City, IN. 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 Indiana on TaxTakeHome.com

Where your money goes further

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