North Platte, NE vs Ottawa, IL: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Ottawa, IL has a modeled overall cost index 15.9% higher than North Platte, NE.

North Platte, NE · modeled 2BR rent
$1,070 / month
Ottawa, IL · modeled 2BR rent
$1,130 / 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 North Platte, NE and Ottawa, 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

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Estimated extra cost: $1,452/month in Ottawa, IL

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $167,420 in Ottawa, IL

Regional cost estimates: North Platte, NE uses Lincoln, NE. Ottawa, IL uses Chicago, IL. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 15.9%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$1,452
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$17.4K
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.

North Platte, NE

Population:23K
Cost Index:
77.9
100 = national average
Typical Home:$201K

Ottawa, IL

Population:19K
Cost Index:
90.3
100 = national average
Typical Home:$199K

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North Platte, NE

The Cornhusker State

23K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Nebraska, this city has a population of 23K residents.

Ottawa, IL

The Prairie State

19K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Illinois, this city has a population of 19K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: North Platte, NE vs Ottawa, 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
↑ 42.1%
North Platte, NE
$2,035
Ottawa, IL
$2,892
Difference
$857
more
Transportation
↑ 31.8%
North Platte, NE
$1,335
Ottawa, IL
$1,761
Difference
$425
more
Other
↑ 9.0%
North Platte, NE
$1,691
Ottawa, IL
$1,842
Difference
$151
more
Healthcare
↓ 13.8%
North Platte, NE
$791
Ottawa, IL
$682
Difference
$109
less
Groceries
↑ 7.1%
North Platte, NE
$1,102
Ottawa, IL
$1,180
Difference
$78.01
more
All Utilities
↑ 9.1%
North Platte, NE
$546
Ottawa, IL
$595
Difference
$49.63
more

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$810
To$810
→ $0
1 Bed
From$820
To$860
↑ $40.00
2 Bed
From$1,070
To$1,130
↑ $60.00
3 Bed
From$1,280
To$1,510
↑ $230
North Platte, NEZIP-level data

1BR range: $820–$820/mo

Ottawa, ILZIP-level data

1BR range: $860–$860/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 North Platte, NE
$8,952
Monthly in Ottawa, IL
$1,452
Difference

Home Values

North Platte
Ottawa
$201K
Median Value
$199K
↑ +5.9%
YoY Change
↑ +10.5%
↑ +36.1%
5-Year Change
↑ +44.1%

Homes in Ottawa are 1% less expensive than North Platte

Calculate payment - North PlatteCalculate payment - Ottawa

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↑ $1.9K
Per year
Monthly Difference
$159
More take-home
Effective Rate Diff
1.3%
Rate difference

North Platte, NE

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Nebraska State Tax
Effective: 6.2%
$9.3K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 30.9%
$46.3K
Take-Home Pay
$8,638/month
$103.7K

Ottawa, 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

North Platte, NE Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.0%
Property Tax:1.8%

Ottawa, 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

North Platte
Ottawa
41 Good
Air Quality
54 Moderate
83.7%
Good Air Days
35.8%
91 Moderate
Climate Risk
100 Very High
🌪💨
Top Hazards
🌊🌡🫨
▲+3.3°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.2°F
38 days
Heat Days >95°F
18 days
▲+3.3°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.2°F
38 days
Heat Days >95°F
18 days

Before moving from North Platte, NE to Ottawa, 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 Ottawa, IL for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in North Platte, NE. 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 North Platte to Ottawa moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: North Platte, NE vs Ottawa, IL

How do the cost estimates for North Platte, NE and Ottawa, IL compare?

Ottawa, IL has a modeled overall cost index 15.9% higher than North Platte, NE. 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 North Platte, NE, the model estimates $167,420 in Ottawa, 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 North Platte, NE and Ottawa, IL?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,070/month in North Platte, NE and $1,130/month in Ottawa, 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 Nebraska and Illinois on TaxTakeHome.com

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