Mountain View, MO vs Lena, IL: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Lena, IL has a modeled overall cost index 29.7% higher than Mountain View, MO.

Mountain View, MO · modeled 2BR rent
$890 / month
Lena, 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 Mountain View, MO and Lena, 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: $2,092/month in Lena, IL

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $175,106 in Lena, IL

Regional cost estimates: Mountain View, MO uses St. Louis, MO. Lena, IL uses Madison, WI. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 29.7%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$2,092
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$25.1K
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.

Mountain View, MO

Population:3K
Cost Index:
71.1
100 = national average
Typical Home:$188K

Lena, IL

Population:3K
Cost Index:
92.2
100 = national average
Typical Home:$197K

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Mountain View, MO

The Show-Me State

3K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Missouri, this city has a population of 3K residents.

Lena, IL

The Prairie State

3K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Illinois, this city has a population of 3K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Mountain View, MO vs Lena, 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
↑ 58.2%
Mountain View, MO
$1,876
Lena, IL
$2,969
Difference
$1,093
more
Other
↑ 19.8%
Mountain View, MO
$1,790
Lena, IL
$2,145
Difference
$355
more
Transportation
↑ 24.4%
Mountain View, MO
$1,354
Lena, IL
$1,685
Difference
$330
more
Healthcare
↑ 41.5%
Mountain View, MO
$649
Lena, IL
$918
Difference
$269
more
Groceries
↑ 4.8%
Mountain View, MO
$1,170
Lena, IL
$1,226
Difference
$55.79
more
All Utilities
↓ 1.6%
Mountain View, MO
$660
Lena, IL
$649
Difference
$10.65
less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$620
To$690
↑ $70.00
1 Bed
From$680
To$700
↑ $20.00
2 Bed
From$890
To$920
↑ $30.00
3 Bed
From$1,200
To$1,120
↓ $80.00
Mountain View, MOZIP-level data

1BR range: $680–$680/mo

Lena, ILZIP-level data

1BR range: $700–$700/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 Mountain View, MO
$9,592
Monthly in Lena, IL
$2,092
Difference

Home Values

Mountain View
Lena
$188K
Median Value
$197K
↑ +4.2%
YoY Change
↑ +10.8%
↑ +49.4%
5-Year Change
↑ +60.3%

Homes in Lena are 5% more expensive than Mountain View

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↑ $504
Per year
Monthly Difference
$42.00
More take-home
Effective Rate Diff
0.3%
Rate difference

Mountain View, MO

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Missouri State Tax
Effective: 5.3%
$7.9K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 30.0%
$44.9K
Take-Home Pay
$8,755/month
$105.1K

Lena, 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

Mountain View, MO Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.2%
Property Tax:1.0%

Lena, 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

Mountain View
Lena
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 Mountain View, MO to Lena, 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 Lena, IL for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Mountain View, MO. 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 Mountain View to Lena moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Mountain View, MO vs Lena, IL

How do the cost estimates for Mountain View, MO and Lena, IL compare?

Lena, IL has a modeled overall cost index 29.7% higher than Mountain View, MO. 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 Mountain View, MO, the model estimates $175,106 in Lena, 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 Mountain View, MO and Lena, IL?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $890/month in Mountain View, MO and $920/month in Lena, 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 Missouri and Illinois on TaxTakeHome.com

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