North Riverside, IL vs Monona, WI: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Monona, WI has a modeled overall cost index 3.2% higher than North Riverside, IL.

North Riverside, IL · modeled 2BR rent: $1,600 / month
Monona, WI · modeled 2BR rent: $1,640 / 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 Riverside, IL and Monona, WI 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

Current salary in North Riverside, IL

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $41.33/month in Monona, WI

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $149,504 in Monona, WI

Regional cost estimates: North Riverside, IL uses Chicago, IL. Monona, WI uses Madison, WI. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↑ 3.2%

More expensive

Monthly Impact

$41.33

Savings

Annual Impact

$496

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 Riverside, IL

Population:7K

Cost Index:

94.1

100 = national average

Typical Home:$397K

Monona, WI

Population:9K

Cost Index:

97.1

100 = national average

Typical Home:$397K

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North Riverside, IL

The Prairie State

Population

State Tax

Yes

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

Monona, WI

The Badger State

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Wisconsin, this city has a population of 9K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: North Riverside, IL vs Monona, WI

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.

Category	North Riverside, IL	Monona, WI	Difference	Change
Transportation	$1,483/mo	$1,320/mo	↓ $163less	11.0%
Healthcare	$563/mo	$701/mo	↑ $138more	24.6%
Other	$1,552/mo	$1,680/mo	↑ $129more	8.3%
Housing	$2,437/mo	$2,326/mo	↓ $111less	4.5%
Groceries	$974/mo	$936/mo	↓ $38.22less	3.9%
All Utilities	$491/mo	$496/mo	↑ $4.48more	0.9%

Transportation

↓ 11.0%

North Riverside, IL

$1,483

Monona, WI

$1,320

Difference

$163

less

Healthcare

↑ 24.6%

North Riverside, IL

$563

Monona, WI

$701

Difference

$138

Other

↑ 8.3%

North Riverside, IL

$1,552

Monona, WI

$1,680

Difference

$129

Housing

↓ 4.5%

North Riverside, IL

$2,437

Monona, WI

$2,326

Difference

$111

less

Groceries

↓ 3.9%

North Riverside, IL

$974

Monona, WI

$936

Difference

$38.22

less

All Utilities

↑ 0.9%

North Riverside, IL

$491

Monona, WI

$496

Difference

$4.48

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$1,330

To$1,230

↓ $100

1 Bed

From$1,420

To$1,430

↑ $10.00

2 Bed

From$1,600

To$1,640

↑ $40.00

3 Bed

From$2,060

To$2,170

↑ $110

North Riverside, ILZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,420–$1,420/mo

Monona, WIZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,430–$1,430/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 Riverside, IL

$7,459

Monthly in Monona, WI

$41.33

Difference

Home Values

North Riverside

Monona

$397K

Median Value

$397K

↑ +6.7%

YoY Change

↑ +3.3%

↑ +29.4%

5-Year Change

↑ +43.6%

Calculate payment - North Riverside Calculate payment - Monona

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings

↓ $1.4K

More taxes

Monthly Difference

$119

Less take-home

Effective Rate Diff

0.9%

Rate difference

North Riverside, 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

Monona, WI

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

Wisconsin State Tax

Effective: 5.9%

$8.8K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 30.6%

$45.9K

Take-Home Pay

$8,678/month

$104.1K

Additional Tax Information

North Riverside, IL Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.8%

Property Tax:2.2%

Monona, WI Tax Rates

Sales Tax:5.6%

Property Tax:1.8%

💡 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 Riverside

Monona

54 Moderate

Air Quality

42 Good

35.8%

Good Air Days

72.1%

100 Very High

Climate Risk

94 Moderate

🌊🌡🫨

Top Hazards

🌊🌪💨

▲+3.2°F

2050 Outlook

▲+3.4°F

18 days

Heat Days >95°F

10 days

▲+3.2°F

2050 Outlook

▲+3.4°F

18 days

Heat Days >95°F

10 days

Before moving from North Riverside, IL to Monona, WI

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

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Monona, WI for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in North Riverside, IL. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
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.
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.
Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your North Riverside to Monona moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: North Riverside, IL vs Monona, WI

How do the cost estimates for North Riverside, IL and Monona, WI compare?

Monona, WI has a modeled overall cost index 3.2% higher than North Riverside, 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 North Riverside, IL, the model estimates $149,504 in Monona, WI. 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 Riverside, IL and Monona, WI?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,600/month in North Riverside, IL and $1,640/month in Monona, WI. 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 Wisconsin on TaxTakeHome.com