Moline, IL vs Rock Island, IL: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Rock Island, IL has a modeled overall cost index 0.8% lower than Moline, IL.

Moline, IL · modeled 2BR rent: $1,150 / 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

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Moline, IL 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

Current salary in Moline, IL

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $48.92/month in Rock Island, IL

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $149,413 in Rock Island, IL

Regional cost estimates: Moline, IL uses Madison, WI. Rock Island, IL uses Madison, WI. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↓ 0.8%

Less expensive

Monthly Impact

$48.92

Savings

Annual Impact

$587

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.

Moline, IL

Population:42K

Cost Index:

91.9

100 = national average

Typical Home:$145K

Rock Island, IL

Population:36K

Cost Index:

91.2

100 = national average

Typical Home:$122K

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Moline, IL

The Prairie State

42K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Illinois, this city has a population of 42K 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: Moline, IL 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.

Category	Moline, IL	Rock Island, IL	Difference	Change
Housing	$2,320/mo	$2,302/mo	↓ $17.71less	0.8%
Other	$1,676/mo	$1,664/mo	↓ $12.80less	0.8%
Transportation	$1,317/mo	$1,307/mo	↓ $10.05less	0.8%
Groceries	$960/mo	$956/mo	↓ $3.67less	0.4%
Healthcare	$719/mo	$716/mo	↓ $2.75less	0.4%
All Utilities	$508/mo	$506/mo	↓ $1.94less	0.4%

Housing

↓ 0.8%

Moline, IL

$2,320

Rock Island, IL

$2,302

Difference

$17.71

less

Other

↓ 0.8%

Moline, IL

$1,676

Rock Island, IL

$1,664

Difference

$12.80

less

Transportation

↓ 0.8%

Moline, IL

$1,317

Rock Island, IL

$1,307

Difference

$10.05

less

Groceries

↓ 0.4%

Moline, IL

$960

Rock Island, IL

$956

Difference

$3.67

less

Healthcare

↓ 0.4%

Moline, IL

$719

Rock Island, IL

$716

Difference

$2.75

less

All Utilities

↓ 0.4%

Moline, IL

$508

Rock Island, IL

$506

Difference

$1.94

less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$820

To$800

↓ $20.00

1 Bed

From$930

To$910

↓ $20.00

2 Bed

From$1,150

To$1,120

↓ $30.00

3 Bed

From$1,510

To$1,470

↓ $40.00

Moline, ILZIP-level data

1BR range: $930–$930/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 Moline, IL

$7,451

Monthly in Rock Island, IL

$48.92

Difference

Home Values

Moline

Rock Island

$145K

Median Value

$122K

↑ +6.2%

YoY Change

↑ +3.2%

↑ +21.1%

5-Year Change

↑ +19.8%

Homes in Rock Island are 16% less expensive than Moline

Calculate payment - Moline Calculate payment - Rock Island

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings

→ $0

Same taxes

Monthly Difference

Same take-home

Effective Rate Diff

0.0%

Rate difference

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

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

Moline, IL Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.8%

Property Tax:2.2%

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

Moline

Rock Island

42 Good

Air Quality

42 Good

72.1%

Good Air Days

72.1%

94 Moderate

Climate Risk

94 Moderate

🌊🌪💨

Top Hazards

🌊🌪💨

▲+3.4°F

2050 Outlook

▲+3.4°F

10 days

Heat Days >95°F

10 days

▲+3.4°F

2050 Outlook

▲+3.4°F

10 days

Heat Days >95°F

10 days

Before moving from Moline, IL to Rock Island, IL

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

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Rock Island, IL for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Moline, IL. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
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.
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.
Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Moline 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: Moline, IL vs Rock Island, IL

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

Rock Island, IL has a modeled overall cost index 0.8% lower than Moline, 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 Moline, IL, the model estimates $149,413 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 Moline, IL and Rock Island, IL?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,150/month in Moline, IL 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.

Where your money goes further

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