Smithton, IL vs Rock Valley, IA: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Rock Valley, IA has a modeled overall cost index 8.2% lower than Smithton, IL.

Smithton, IL · modeled 2BR rent
$990 / month
Rock Valley, IA · modeled 2BR rent
$1,090 / 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 Smithton, IL and Rock Valley, 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

$
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Estimated savings: $422/month in Rock Valley, IA

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $144,941 in Rock Valley, IA

Regional cost estimates: Smithton, IL uses St. Louis, MO. Rock Valley, IA uses Omaha, NE. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↓ 8.2%
Less expensive
Monthly Impact
$422
Savings
Annual Impact
$5.1K
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.

Smithton, IL

Population:4K
Cost Index:
78.8
100 = national average
Typical Home:$298K

Rock Valley, IA

Population:4K
Cost Index:
72.3
100 = national average
Typical Home:$298K

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Smithton, IL

The Prairie State

4K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Illinois, this city has a population of 4K residents.

Rock Valley, IA

The Hawkeye State

4K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Iowa, this city has a population of 4K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Smithton, IL vs Rock Valley, 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.

Other
↓ 11.3%
Smithton, IL
$1,821
Rock Valley, IA
$1,615
Difference
$206
less
Transportation
↓ 10.2%
Smithton, IL
$1,377
Rock Valley, IA
$1,236
Difference
$141
less
Healthcare
↑ 21.3%
Smithton, IL
$627
Rock Valley, IA
$760
Difference
$133
more
All Utilities
↓ 17.8%
Smithton, IL
$637
Rock Valley, IA
$524
Difference
$113
less
Groceries
↓ 6.3%
Smithton, IL
$1,130
Rock Valley, IA
$1,059
Difference
$71.24
less
Housing
↓ 1.2%
Smithton, IL
$1,908
Rock Valley, IA
$1,884
Difference
$23.61
less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$760
To$830
↑ $70.00
1 Bed
From$800
To$830
↑ $30.00
2 Bed
From$990
To$1,090
↑ $100
3 Bed
From$1,270
To$1,400
↑ $130
Smithton, ILZIP-level data

1BR range: $800–$800/mo

Rock Valley, IAZIP-level data

1BR range: $830–$830/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 Smithton, IL
$7,078
Monthly in Rock Valley, IA
$422
Difference

Home Values

Smithton
Rock Valley
$298K
Median Value
$298K
↑ +4.2%
YoY Change
↑ +5%
↑ +35.4%
5-Year Change
N/A
Calculate payment - SmithtonCalculate payment - Rock Valley

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

Smithton, 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

Rock Valley, 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

Smithton, IL Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.8%
Property Tax:2.2%

Rock Valley, 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

Smithton
Rock Valley
54 Moderate
Air Quality
45 Good
38%
Good Air Days
63.7%
99 High
Climate Risk
96 High
🌊🌡🫨
Top Hazards
🌊🌡🌪
▲+3.0°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.4°F
39 days
Heat Days >95°F
35 days
▲+3.0°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.4°F
39 days
Heat Days >95°F
35 days

Before moving from Smithton, IL to Rock Valley, IA

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

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Rock Valley, IA for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Smithton, IL. 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 Smithton to Rock Valley moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Smithton, IL vs Rock Valley, IA

How do the cost estimates for Smithton, IL and Rock Valley, IA compare?

Rock Valley, IA has a modeled overall cost index 8.2% lower than Smithton, 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 Smithton, IL, the model estimates $144,941 in Rock Valley, 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 Smithton, IL and Rock Valley, IA?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $990/month in Smithton, IL and $1,090/month in Rock Valley, 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

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