Menomonee Falls, WI vs Oswego, IL: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Oswego, IL has a modeled overall cost index 13.1% higher than Menomonee Falls, WI.

Menomonee Falls, WI · modeled 2BR rent
$1,640 / 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 Menomonee Falls, WI 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: $1,137/month in Oswego, IL

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $163,647 in Oswego, IL

Regional cost estimates: Menomonee Falls, WI uses Milwaukee, WI. Oswego, IL uses Chicago, IL. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 13.1%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$1,137
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$13.6K
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.

Menomonee Falls, WI

Population:40K
Cost Index:
85.7
100 = national average
Typical Home:$414K

Oswego, IL

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

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Menomonee Falls, WI

The Badger State

40K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Wisconsin, this city has a population of 40K 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: Menomonee Falls, WI 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
↑ 51.9%
Menomonee Falls, WI
$1,855
Oswego, IL
$2,818
Difference
$962
more
Transportation
↑ 13.7%
Menomonee Falls, WI
$1,508
Oswego, IL
$1,715
Difference
$207
more
Healthcare
↓ 19.2%
Menomonee Falls, WI
$794
Oswego, IL
$641
Difference
$153
less
Other
↑ 4.2%
Menomonee Falls, WI
$1,722
Oswego, IL
$1,794
Difference
$71.97
more
Groceries
↑ 4.7%
Menomonee Falls, WI
$1,059
Oswego, IL
$1,109
Difference
$49.92
more
All Utilities
↓ 0.3%
Menomonee Falls, WI
$561
Oswego, IL
$560
Difference
$1.72
less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$1,260
To$1,140
↓ $120
1 Bed
From$1,370
To$1,270
↓ $100
2 Bed
From$1,640
To$1,660
↑ $20.00
3 Bed
From$2,020
To$2,280
↑ $260
Menomonee Falls, WIZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,370–$1,370/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 Menomonee Falls, WI
$8,637
Monthly in Oswego, IL
$1,137
Difference

Home Values

Menomonee Falls
Oswego
$414K
Median Value
$407K
↑ +5.5%
YoY Change
↑ +4.1%
↑ +26%
5-Year Change
↑ +49.9%

Homes in Oswego are 2% less expensive than Menomonee Falls

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↑ $1.4K
Per year
Monthly Difference
$119
More take-home
Effective Rate Diff
0.9%
Rate difference

Menomonee Falls, WI

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Wisconsin State Tax
Effective: 5.9%
$8.8K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 30.6%
$45.9K
Take-Home Pay
$8,678/month
$104.1K

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

Menomonee Falls, WI Tax Rates

Sales Tax:5.6%
Property Tax:1.8%

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

Menomonee Falls
Oswego
43 Good
Air Quality
54 Moderate
68.6%
Good Air Days
35.8%
98 High
Climate Risk
100 Very High
🌊🌡🌪
Top Hazards
🌊🌡🫨
▲+3.3°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.2°F
13 days
Heat Days >95°F
18 days
▲+3.3°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.2°F
13 days
Heat Days >95°F
18 days

Before moving from Menomonee Falls, WI 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 Menomonee Falls, WI. 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 Menomonee Falls 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: Menomonee Falls, WI vs Oswego, IL

How do the cost estimates for Menomonee Falls, WI and Oswego, IL compare?

Oswego, IL has a modeled overall cost index 13.1% higher than Menomonee Falls, WI. 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 Menomonee Falls, WI, the model estimates $163,647 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 Menomonee Falls, WI and Oswego, IL?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,640/month in Menomonee Falls, WI 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 Wisconsin and Illinois on TaxTakeHome.com

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