Ralston, NE vs Coal City, IL: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Coal City, IL has a modeled overall cost index 11.5% higher than Ralston, NE.

Ralston, NE · modeled 2BR rent
$1,360 / month
Coal City, IL · modeled 2BR rent
$1,400 / 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 Ralston, NE and Coal City, 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: $1,112/month in Coal City, IL

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $163,343 in Coal City, IL

Regional cost estimates: Ralston, NE uses Omaha, NE. Coal City, IL uses Chicago, IL. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 11.5%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$1,112
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$13.3K
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.

Ralston, NE

Population:6K
Cost Index:
82.4
100 = national average
Typical Home:$274K

Coal City, IL

Population:6K
Cost Index:
92.0
100 = national average
Typical Home:$277K

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Ralston, NE

The Cornhusker State

6K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Nebraska, this city has a population of 6K residents.

Coal City, IL

The Prairie State

6K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Illinois, this city has a population of 6K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Ralston, NE vs Coal City, 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
↑ 36.8%
Ralston, NE
$2,039
Coal City, IL
$2,789
Difference
$750
more
Transportation
↑ 26.9%
Ralston, NE
$1,338
Coal City, IL
$1,698
Difference
$360
more
Healthcare
↓ 15.4%
Ralston, NE
$771
Coal City, IL
$652
Difference
$119
less
Groceries
↑ 5.1%
Ralston, NE
$1,073
Coal City, IL
$1,128
Difference
$54.34
more
All Utilities
↑ 7.0%
Ralston, NE
$531
Coal City, IL
$569
Difference
$37.42
more
Other
↑ 1.6%
Ralston, NE
$1,748
Coal City, IL
$1,776
Difference
$28.73
more

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$1,080
To$990
↓ $90.00
1 Bed
From$1,140
To$1,070
↓ $70.00
2 Bed
From$1,360
To$1,400
↑ $40.00
3 Bed
From$1,800
To$1,900
↑ $100
Ralston, NEZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,140–$1,140/mo

Coal City, ILZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,070–$1,070/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 Ralston, NE
$8,612
Monthly in Coal City, IL
$1,112
Difference

Home Values

Ralston
Coal City
$274K
Median Value
$277K
↑ +2%
YoY Change
↑ +3.4%
↑ +33.4%
5-Year Change
↑ +31.3%

Homes in Coal City are 1% more expensive than Ralston

Calculate payment - RalstonCalculate payment - Coal City

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

Ralston, 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

Coal City, 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

Ralston, NE Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.0%
Property Tax:1.8%

Coal City, 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

Ralston
Coal City
45 Good
Air Quality
54 Moderate
63.7%
Good Air Days
35.8%
96 High
Climate Risk
100 Very High
🌊🌡🌪
Top Hazards
🌊🌡🫨
▲+3.4°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.2°F
35 days
Heat Days >95°F
18 days
▲+3.4°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.2°F
35 days
Heat Days >95°F
18 days

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

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Ralston, NE vs Coal City, IL

How do the cost estimates for Ralston, NE and Coal City, IL compare?

Coal City, IL has a modeled overall cost index 11.5% higher than Ralston, 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 Ralston, NE, the model estimates $163,343 in Coal City, 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 Ralston, NE and Coal City, IL?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,360/month in Ralston, NE and $1,400/month in Coal City, 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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