Rochelle, IL vs Pleasant Hill, IA: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Pleasant Hill, IA has a modeled overall cost index 5.1% lower than Rochelle, IL.

Rochelle, IL · modeled 2BR rent: $1,250 / month
Pleasant Hill, IA · modeled 2BR rent: $1,200 / 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 Rochelle, IL and Pleasant Hill, IA 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 Rochelle, IL

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $658/month in Pleasant Hill, IA

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $142,100 in Pleasant Hill, IA

Regional cost estimates: Rochelle, IL uses Chicago, IL. Pleasant Hill, IA uses Des Moines, IA. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↓ 5.1%

Less expensive

Monthly Impact

$658

Savings

Annual Impact

$7.9K

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.

Rochelle, IL

Population:9K

Cost Index:

88.8

100 = national average

Typical Home:$196K

Pleasant Hill, IA

Population:12K

Cost Index:

84.3

100 = national average

Typical Home:$187K

Planning the move to Pleasant Hill?

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

Rochelle, IL

The Prairie State

Population

State Tax

Yes

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

Pleasant Hill, IA

The Hawkeye State

12K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Iowa, this city has a population of 12K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Rochelle, IL vs Pleasant Hill, IA

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	Rochelle, IL	Pleasant Hill, IA	Difference	Change
Housing	$2,417/mo	$1,869/mo	↓ $549less	22.7%
Transportation	$1,472/mo	$1,241/mo	↓ $230less	15.6%
Healthcare	$575/mo	$703/mo	↑ $128more	22.3%
Other	$1,540/mo	$1,605/mo	↑ $65.32more	4.2%
Groceries	$995/mo	$938/mo	↓ $56.32less	5.7%
All Utilities	$502/mo	$485/mo	↓ $16.74less	3.3%

Housing

↓ 22.7%

Rochelle, IL

$2,417

Pleasant Hill, IA

$1,869

Difference

$549

less

Transportation

↓ 15.6%

Rochelle, IL

$1,472

Pleasant Hill, IA

$1,241

Difference

$230

less

Healthcare

↑ 22.3%

Rochelle, IL

$575

Pleasant Hill, IA

$703

Difference

$128

Other

↑ 4.2%

Rochelle, IL

$1,540

Pleasant Hill, IA

$1,605

Difference

$65.32

Groceries

↓ 5.7%

Rochelle, IL

$995

Pleasant Hill, IA

$938

Difference

$56.32

less

All Utilities

↓ 3.3%

Rochelle, IL

$502

Pleasant Hill, IA

$485

Difference

$16.74

less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$860

To$970

↑ $110

1 Bed

From$960

To$1,010

↑ $50.00

2 Bed

From$1,250

To$1,200

↓ $50.00

3 Bed

From$1,710

To$1,630

↓ $80.00

Rochelle, ILZIP-level data

1BR range: $960–$960/mo

Pleasant Hill, IAZIP-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 Rochelle, IL

$6,842

Monthly in Pleasant Hill, IA

$658

Difference

Home Values

Rochelle

Pleasant Hill

$196K

Median Value

$187K

↑ +5.4%

YoY Change

↑ +0.5%

↑ +32.6%

5-Year Change

↑ +31.5%

Homes in Pleasant Hill are 4% less expensive than Rochelle

Calculate payment - Rochelle Calculate payment - Pleasant Hill

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings

↓ $3.3K

More taxes

Monthly Difference

$273

Less take-home

Effective Rate Diff

2.2%

Rate difference

Rochelle, 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

Pleasant Hill, 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

Additional Tax Information

Rochelle, IL Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.8%

Property Tax:2.2%

Pleasant Hill, IA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.4%

Property Tax:1.5%

💡 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

Rochelle

Pleasant Hill

54 Moderate

Air Quality

45 Good

35.8%

Good Air Days

67.5%

100 Very High

Climate Risk

92 Moderate

🌊🌡🫨

Top Hazards

🌡☀🌪

▲+3.2°F

2050 Outlook

▲+3.4°F

18 days

Heat Days >95°F

25 days

▲+3.2°F

2050 Outlook

▲+3.4°F

18 days

Heat Days >95°F

25 days

Before moving from Rochelle, IL to Pleasant Hill, IA

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

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Pleasant Hill, IA for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Rochelle, 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 Rochelle to Pleasant Hill moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Pleasant Hill, IA by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Rochelle, IL vs Pleasant Hill, IA

How do the cost estimates for Rochelle, IL and Pleasant Hill, IA compare?

Pleasant Hill, IA has a modeled overall cost index 5.1% lower than Rochelle, 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 Rochelle, IL, the model estimates $142,100 in Pleasant Hill, IA. 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 Rochelle, IL and Pleasant Hill, IA?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,250/month in Rochelle, IL and $1,200/month in Pleasant Hill, IA. 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 Iowa on TaxTakeHome.com