Norwalk, IA vs Glen Carbon, IL: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Glen Carbon, IL has a modeled overall cost index 4.3% lower than Norwalk, IA.

Norwalk, IA · modeled 2BR rent
$1,300 / month
Glen Carbon, IL · modeled 2BR rent
$1,240 / 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 Norwalk, IA and Glen Carbon, 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 savings: $348/month in Glen Carbon, IL

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $145,819 in Glen Carbon, IL

Regional cost estimates: Norwalk, IA uses Des Moines, IA. Glen Carbon, IL uses St. Louis, MO. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↓ 4.3%
Less expensive
Monthly Impact
$348
Savings
Annual Impact
$4.2K
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.

Norwalk, IA

Population:15K
Cost Index:
84.8
100 = national average
Typical Home:$335K

Glen Carbon, IL

Population:14K
Cost Index:
81.2
100 = national average
Typical Home:$319K

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Norwalk, IA

The Hawkeye State

15K
Population
State Tax
Yes

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

Glen Carbon, IL

The Prairie State

14K
Population
State Tax
Yes

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

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Norwalk, IA vs Glen Carbon, 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
↓ 10.9%
Norwalk, IA
$2,050
Glen Carbon, IL
$1,828
Difference
$223
less
Healthcare
↓ 23.1%
Norwalk, IA
$769
Glen Carbon, IL
$592
Difference
$178
less
All Utilities
↑ 13.4%
Norwalk, IA
$531
Glen Carbon, IL
$602
Difference
$71.15
more
Transportation
↓ 3.1%
Norwalk, IA
$1,362
Glen Carbon, IL
$1,320
Difference
$42.60
less
Groceries
↑ 3.9%
Norwalk, IA
$1,027
Glen Carbon, IL
$1,067
Difference
$40.02
more
Other
↓ 1.0%
Norwalk, IA
$1,761
Glen Carbon, IL
$1,744
Difference
$16.74
less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$1,050
To$970
↓ $80.00
1 Bed
From$1,090
To$1,010
↓ $80.00
2 Bed
From$1,300
To$1,240
↓ $60.00
3 Bed
From$1,770
To$1,600
↓ $170
Norwalk, IAZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,090–$1,090/mo

Glen Carbon, ILZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,010–$1,010/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 Norwalk, IA
$7,152
Monthly in Glen Carbon, IL
$348
Difference

Home Values

Norwalk
Glen Carbon
$335K
Median Value
$319K
↑ +2.2%
YoY Change
↑ +5.1%
↑ +24.1%
5-Year Change
↑ +31.2%

Homes in Glen Carbon are 5% less expensive than Norwalk

Calculate payment - NorwalkCalculate payment - Glen Carbon

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↑ $3.3K
Per year
Monthly Difference
$273
More take-home
Effective Rate Diff
2.2%
Rate difference

Norwalk, IA

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Iowa State Tax
Effective: 7.1%
$10.7K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 31.8%
$47.7K
Take-Home Pay
$8,524/month
$102.3K

Glen Carbon, 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

Norwalk, IA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.4%
Property Tax:1.5%

Glen Carbon, 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

Norwalk
Glen Carbon
45 Good
Air Quality
54 Moderate
67.5%
Good Air Days
38%
92 Moderate
Climate Risk
99 High
🌡☀🌪
Top Hazards
🌊🌡🫨
▲+3.4°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.0°F
25 days
Heat Days >95°F
39 days
▲+3.4°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.0°F
25 days
Heat Days >95°F
39 days

Before moving from Norwalk, IA to Glen Carbon, 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 Glen Carbon, IL for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Norwalk, IA. 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 Norwalk to Glen Carbon moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Norwalk, IA vs Glen Carbon, IL

How do the cost estimates for Norwalk, IA and Glen Carbon, IL compare?

Glen Carbon, IL has a modeled overall cost index 4.3% lower than Norwalk, IA. 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 Norwalk, IA, the model estimates $145,819 in Glen Carbon, 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 Norwalk, IA and Glen Carbon, IL?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,300/month in Norwalk, IA and $1,240/month in Glen Carbon, 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 Iowa and Illinois on TaxTakeHome.com

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