Mount Carmel, IL vs Oelwein, IA: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Oelwein, IA has a modeled overall cost index 0.5% higher than Mount Carmel, IL.

Mount Carmel, IL · modeled 2BR rent
$920 / month
Oelwein, IA · modeled 2BR rent
$940 / 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 Mount Carmel, IL and Oelwein, IA 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: $8.51/month in Oelwein, IA

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $150,102 in Oelwein, IA

Regional cost estimates: Mount Carmel, IL uses Louisville, KY. Oelwein, IA uses Des Moines, IA. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 0.5%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$8.51
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$102
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.

Mount Carmel, IL

Population:7K
Cost Index:
79.7
100 = national average
Typical Home:$121K

Oelwein, IA

Population:6K
Cost Index:
80.1
100 = national average
Typical Home:$110K

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Mount Carmel, IL

The Prairie State

7K
Population
State Tax
Yes

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

Oelwein, IA

The Hawkeye State

6K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Iowa, this city has a population of 6K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Mount Carmel, IL vs Oelwein, IA

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.

Healthcare
↑ 21.2%
Mount Carmel, IL
$648
Oelwein, IA
$785
Difference
$137
more
Transportation
↓ 4.7%
Mount Carmel, IL
$1,419
Oelwein, IA
$1,352
Difference
$67.33
less
Groceries
↓ 5.0%
Mount Carmel, IL
$1,103
Oelwein, IA
$1,048
Difference
$54.89
less
Housing
↓ 2.0%
Mount Carmel, IL
$2,075
Oelwein, IA
$2,035
Difference
$40.72
less
Other
↑ 1.5%
Mount Carmel, IL
$1,721
Oelwein, IA
$1,747
Difference
$26.61
more
All Utilities
↑ 1.4%
Mount Carmel, IL
$534
Oelwein, IA
$542
Difference
$7.60
more

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$630
To$700
↑ $70.00
1 Bed
From$700
To$740
↑ $40.00
2 Bed
From$920
To$940
↑ $20.00
3 Bed
From$1,280
To$1,240
↓ $40.00
Mount Carmel, ILZIP-level data

1BR range: $700–$700/mo

Oelwein, IAZIP-level data

1BR range: $740–$740/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 Mount Carmel, IL
$7,509
Monthly in Oelwein, IA
$8.51
Difference

Home Values

Mount Carmel
Oelwein
$121K
Median Value
$110K
↑ +3.5%
YoY Change
↑ +9.5%
↑ +7.6%
5-Year Change
↑ +31.8%

Homes in Oelwein are 9% less expensive than Mount Carmel

Calculate payment - Mount CarmelCalculate payment - Oelwein

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↓ $3.3K
More taxes
Monthly Difference
$273
Less take-home
Effective Rate Diff
2.2%
Rate difference

Mount Carmel, 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

Oelwein, IA

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Iowa State Tax
Effective: 7.1%
$10.7K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 31.8%
$47.7K
Take-Home Pay
$8,524/month
$102.3K

Additional Tax Information

Mount Carmel, IL Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.8%
Property Tax:2.2%

Oelwein, IA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.4%
Property Tax:1.5%

💡 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

Mount Carmel
Oelwein
50 Good
Air Quality
45 Good
50.8%
Good Air Days
67.5%
98 High
Climate Risk
92 Moderate
🌊🌡🌪
Top Hazards
🌡☀🌪
▲+2.9°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.4°F
37 days
Heat Days >95°F
25 days
▲+2.9°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.4°F
37 days
Heat Days >95°F
25 days

Before moving from Mount Carmel, IL to Oelwein, IA

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

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Oelwein, IA for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Mount Carmel, 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 Mount Carmel to Oelwein moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Oelwein, IA by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Mount Carmel, IL vs Oelwein, IA

How do the cost estimates for Mount Carmel, IL and Oelwein, IA compare?

Oelwein, IA has a modeled overall cost index 0.5% higher than Mount Carmel, 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 Mount Carmel, IL, the model estimates $150,102 in Oelwein, IA. 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 Mount Carmel, IL and Oelwein, IA?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $920/month in Mount Carmel, IL and $940/month in Oelwein, IA. 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 Iowa on TaxTakeHome.com

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