Mount Vernon, IL vs Sterling, IL: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Sterling, IL has a modeled overall cost index 8.5% higher than Mount Vernon, IL.

Mount Vernon, IL · modeled 2BR rent
$1,050 / month
Sterling, IL · modeled 2BR rent
$920 / 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 Vernon, IL and Sterling, 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: $753/month in Sterling, IL

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $159,036 in Sterling, IL

Regional cost estimates: Mount Vernon, IL uses St. Louis, MO. Sterling, IL uses Madison, WI. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 8.5%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$753
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$9.0K
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 Vernon, IL

Population:14K
Cost Index:
83.9
100 = national average
Typical Home:$121K

Sterling, IL

Population:15K
Cost Index:
91.0
100 = national average
Typical Home:$136K

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Mount Vernon, IL

The Prairie State

14K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Illinois, this city has a population of 14K residents.

Sterling, IL

The Prairie State

15K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Illinois, this city has a population of 15K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Mount Vernon, IL vs Sterling, 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
↑ 32.3%
Mount Vernon, IL
$1,927
Sterling, IL
$2,549
Difference
$623
more
Healthcare
↑ 29.4%
Mount Vernon, IL
$614
Sterling, IL
$794
Difference
$180
more
All Utilities
↓ 10.0%
Mount Vernon, IL
$624
Sterling, IL
$561
Difference
$62.61
less
Transportation
↑ 4.0%
Mount Vernon, IL
$1,391
Sterling, IL
$1,447
Difference
$55.85
more
Groceries
↓ 4.2%
Mount Vernon, IL
$1,106
Sterling, IL
$1,060
Difference
$46.44
less
Other
↑ 0.2%
Mount Vernon, IL
$1,839
Sterling, IL
$1,842
Difference
$3.24
more

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$790
To$670
↓ $120
1 Bed
From$800
To$720
↓ $80.00
2 Bed
From$1,050
To$920
↓ $130
3 Bed
From$1,280
To$1,210
↓ $70.00
Mount Vernon, ILZIP-level data

1BR range: $800–$800/mo

Sterling, ILZIP-level data

1BR range: $720–$720/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 Vernon, IL
$8,253
Monthly in Sterling, IL
$753
Difference

Home Values

Mount Vernon
Sterling
$121K
Median Value
$136K
↑ +3.3%
YoY Change
↑ +4.5%
↑ +23%
5-Year Change
↑ +26.6%

Homes in Sterling are 12% more expensive than Mount Vernon

Calculate payment - Mount VernonCalculate payment - Sterling

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
$0
Same take-home
Effective Rate Diff
0.0%
Rate difference

Mount Vernon, 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

Sterling, 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

Mount Vernon, IL Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.8%
Property Tax:2.2%

Sterling, 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

Mount Vernon
Sterling
54 Moderate
Air Quality
42 Good
38%
Good Air Days
72.1%
99 High
Climate Risk
94 Moderate
🌊🌡🫨
Top Hazards
🌊🌪💨
▲+3.0°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.4°F
39 days
Heat Days >95°F
10 days
▲+3.0°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.4°F
39 days
Heat Days >95°F
10 days

Before moving from Mount Vernon, IL to Sterling, 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 Sterling, IL for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Mount Vernon, 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 Vernon to Sterling moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Mount Vernon, IL vs Sterling, IL

How do the cost estimates for Mount Vernon, IL and Sterling, IL compare?

Sterling, IL has a modeled overall cost index 8.5% higher than Mount Vernon, 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 Vernon, IL, the model estimates $159,036 in Sterling, 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 Mount Vernon, IL and Sterling, IL?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,050/month in Mount Vernon, IL and $920/month in Sterling, 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.

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