South Milwaukee, WI vs Bourbonnais, IL: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Bourbonnais, IL has a modeled overall cost index 12.4% higher than South Milwaukee, WI.

South Milwaukee, WI · modeled 2BR rent
$1,270 / month
Bourbonnais, IL · modeled 2BR rent
$1,490 / 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 South Milwaukee, WI and Bourbonnais, 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: $1,081/month in Bourbonnais, IL

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $162,974 in Bourbonnais, IL

Regional cost estimates: South Milwaukee, WI uses Milwaukee, WI. Bourbonnais, IL uses Chicago, IL. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 12.4%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$1,081
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$13.0K
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.

South Milwaukee, WI

Population:20K
Cost Index:
84.4
100 = national average
Typical Home:$288K

Bourbonnais, IL

Population:18K
Cost Index:
94.8
100 = national average
Typical Home:$286K

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South Milwaukee, WI

The Badger State

20K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Wisconsin, this city has a population of 20K residents.

Bourbonnais, IL

The Prairie State

18K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Illinois, this city has a population of 18K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: South Milwaukee, WI vs Bourbonnais, 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
↑ 50.8%
South Milwaukee, WI
$1,850
Bourbonnais, IL
$2,791
Difference
$940
more
Transportation
↑ 12.9%
South Milwaukee, WI
$1,504
Bourbonnais, IL
$1,699
Difference
$195
more
Healthcare
↓ 19.5%
South Milwaukee, WI
$798
Bourbonnais, IL
$642
Difference
$156
less
Other
↑ 3.4%
South Milwaukee, WI
$1,718
Bourbonnais, IL
$1,777
Difference
$59.23
more
Groceries
↑ 4.3%
South Milwaukee, WI
$1,065
Bourbonnais, IL
$1,111
Difference
$46.27
more
All Utilities
↓ 0.7%
South Milwaukee, WI
$564
Bourbonnais, IL
$561
Difference
$3.70
less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$970
To$1,030
↑ $60.00
1 Bed
From$1,060
To$1,140
↑ $80.00
2 Bed
From$1,270
To$1,490
↑ $220
3 Bed
From$1,560
To$1,960
↑ $400
South Milwaukee, WIZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,060–$1,060/mo

Bourbonnais, ILZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,140–$1,140/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 South Milwaukee, WI
$8,581
Monthly in Bourbonnais, IL
$1,081
Difference

Home Values

South Milwaukee
Bourbonnais
$288K
Median Value
$286K
↑ +2.9%
YoY Change
↑ +3.7%
↑ +34.1%
5-Year Change
↑ +41.2%

Homes in Bourbonnais are 1% less expensive than South Milwaukee

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↑ $1.4K
Per year
Monthly Difference
$119
More take-home
Effective Rate Diff
0.9%
Rate difference

South Milwaukee, 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

Bourbonnais, 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

South Milwaukee, WI Tax Rates

Sales Tax:5.6%
Property Tax:1.8%

Bourbonnais, 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

South Milwaukee
Bourbonnais
43 Good
Air Quality
54 Moderate
68.6%
Good Air Days
35.8%
98 High
Climate Risk
100 Very High
🌊🌡🌪
Top Hazards
🌊🌡🫨
▲+3.3°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.2°F
13 days
Heat Days >95°F
18 days
▲+3.3°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.2°F
13 days
Heat Days >95°F
18 days

Before moving from South Milwaukee, WI to Bourbonnais, 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 Bourbonnais, IL for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in South Milwaukee, WI. 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 South Milwaukee to Bourbonnais moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: South Milwaukee, WI vs Bourbonnais, IL

How do the cost estimates for South Milwaukee, WI and Bourbonnais, IL compare?

Bourbonnais, IL has a modeled overall cost index 12.4% higher than South Milwaukee, WI. 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 South Milwaukee, WI, the model estimates $162,974 in Bourbonnais, 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 South Milwaukee, WI and Bourbonnais, IL?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,270/month in South Milwaukee, WI and $1,490/month in Bourbonnais, 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 Wisconsin and Illinois on TaxTakeHome.com

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