Muncie, IN vs Decatur, IL: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Decatur, IL has a modeled overall cost index 7.4% higher than Muncie, IN.

Muncie, IN · modeled 2BR rent
$1,045 / month
Decatur, IL · modeled 2BR rent
$1,040 / 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

Adjust your income and compare the budget ↓
Tap to swap

Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Muncie, IN and Decatur, 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: $674/month in Decatur, IL

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $158,094 in Decatur, IL

Regional cost estimates: Muncie, IN uses Indianapolis, IN. Decatur, IL uses St. Louis, MO. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 7.4%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$674
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$8.1K
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.

Muncie, IN

Population:65K
Cost Index:
84.7
100 = national average
Typical Home:$116K

Decatur, IL

Population:69K
Cost Index:
91.0
100 = national average
Typical Home:$99K

Planning the move to Decatur?

Organize packing, address changes, and moving-day tasks with a free checklist. Your progress saves in this browser. No account needed.

Plan my move with the free checklist

Muncie, IN

The Hoosier State

65K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Indiana, this city has a population of 65K residents.

Decatur, IL

The Prairie State

69K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Illinois, this city has a population of 69K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Muncie, IN vs Decatur, 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
↑ 14.6%
Muncie, IN
$2,004
Decatur, IL
$2,296
Difference
$292
more
Other
↑ 8.5%
Muncie, IN
$1,817
Decatur, IL
$1,972
Difference
$155
more
Transportation
↑ 9.9%
Muncie, IN
$1,358
Decatur, IL
$1,492
Difference
$134
more
Groceries
↑ 7.0%
Muncie, IN
$1,064
Decatur, IL
$1,139
Difference
$74.72
more
All Utilities
↑ 10.4%
Muncie, IN
$582
Decatur, IL
$643
Difference
$60.53
more
Healthcare
↓ 6.3%
Muncie, IN
$674
Decatur, IL
$632
Difference
$42.36
less

🏛️ Local Income Taxes

Muncie, IN: Delaware County Income Tax$2,250/yr (1.5%)

Decatur, IL has no local income tax recorded in this dataset.

Local taxes are shown separately and are not included in the living-cost totals. Coverage is incomplete; an absent entry does not establish that no tax applies.

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$805
To$820
↑ $15.00
1 Bed
From$850
To$830
↓ $20.00
2 Bed
From$1,045
To$1,040
↓ $5.00
3 Bed
From$1,350
To$1,350
→ $0
Muncie, INZIP-level data

1BR range: $770–$910/mo

Decatur, ILZIP-level data

1BR range: $730–$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 Muncie, IN
$8,174
Monthly in Decatur, IL
$674
Difference

Home Values

Muncie
Decatur
$116K
Median Value
$99K
↓ -0.7%
YoY Change
↑ +8.9%
↑ +48.8%
5-Year Change
↑ +33.5%
$76K - $203K
Price Range
$84K - $114K

Homes in Decatur are 14% less expensive than Muncie

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↓ $2.6K
More taxes
Monthly Difference
$215
Less take-home
Effective Rate Diff
1.7%
Rate difference

Muncie, IN

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Indiana State Tax
Effective: 3.2%
$4.8K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 27.9%
$41.9K
Take-Home Pay
$9,012/month
$108.1K

Decatur, 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

Muncie, IN Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.0%
Property Tax:0.9%

Decatur, 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

Muncie
Decatur
54 Moderate
Air Quality
54 Moderate
36.6%
Good Air Days
38%
97 High
Climate Risk
99 High
🌊🌡🌪
Top Hazards
🌊🌡🫨
▲+3.1°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.0°F
18 days
Heat Days >95°F
39 days
▲+3.1°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.0°F
18 days
Heat Days >95°F
39 days

Before moving from Muncie, IN to Decatur, 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 Decatur, IL for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Muncie, IN. 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 Muncie to Decatur moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Muncie, IN vs Decatur, IL

How do the cost estimates for Muncie, IN and Decatur, IL compare?

Decatur, IL has a modeled overall cost index 7.4% higher than Muncie, IN. 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 Muncie, IN, the model estimates $158,094 in Decatur, 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 Muncie, IN and Decatur, IL?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,045/month in Muncie, IN and $1,040/month in Decatur, 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 Indiana and Illinois on TaxTakeHome.com

Similar cost to Decatur, IL

Other cities in a similar price range

Want to compare different cities?

New Comparison