Sparta, IL vs Baxter Springs, KS: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Baxter Springs, KS has a modeled overall cost index 5.2% lower than Sparta, IL.

Sparta, IL · modeled 2BR rent
$920 / month
Baxter Springs, KS · modeled 2BR rent
$930 / 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 Sparta, IL and Baxter Springs, KS 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: $304/month in Baxter Springs, KS

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $146,354 in Baxter Springs, KS

Regional cost estimates: Sparta, IL uses St. Louis, MO. Baxter Springs, KS uses Tulsa, OK. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↓ 5.2%
Less expensive
Monthly Impact
$304
Savings
Annual Impact
$3.6K
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.

Sparta, IL

Population:4K
Cost Index:
80.4
100 = national average
Typical Home:$128K

Baxter Springs, KS

Population:4K
Cost Index:
76.2
100 = national average
Typical Home:$115K

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Sparta, IL

The Prairie State

4K
Population
State Tax
Yes

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

Baxter Springs, KS

The Sunflower State

4K
Population
State Tax
Yes

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

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Sparta, IL vs Baxter Springs, KS

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.

Groceries
↓ 6.7%
Sparta, IL
$1,122
Baxter Springs, KS
$1,047
Difference
$75.49
less
Housing
↓ 3.9%
Sparta, IL
$1,914
Baxter Springs, KS
$1,840
Difference
$74.01
less
All Utilities
↓ 11.6%
Sparta, IL
$633
Baxter Springs, KS
$560
Difference
$73.24
less
Transportation
↓ 3.1%
Sparta, IL
$1,382
Baxter Springs, KS
$1,339
Difference
$42.19
less
Other
↓ 1.2%
Sparta, IL
$1,826
Baxter Springs, KS
$1,804
Difference
$22.53
less
Healthcare
↓ 2.6%
Sparta, IL
$623
Baxter Springs, KS
$606
Difference
$16.35
less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$630
To$700
↑ $70.00
1 Bed
From$700
To$710
↑ $10.00
2 Bed
From$920
To$930
↑ $10.00
3 Bed
From$1,150
To$1,230
↑ $80.00
Sparta, ILZIP-level data

1BR range: $700–$700/mo

Baxter Springs, KSZIP-level data

1BR range: $710–$710/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 Sparta, IL
$7,196
Monthly in Baxter Springs, KS
$304
Difference

Home Values

Sparta
Baxter Springs
$128K
Median Value
$115K
↑ +6.9%
YoY Change
↑ +4.1%
↑ +38.4%
5-Year Change
↑ +46.2%

Homes in Baxter Springs are 10% less expensive than Sparta

Calculate payment - SpartaCalculate payment - Baxter Springs

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↓ $993
More taxes
Monthly Difference
$82.75
Less take-home
Effective Rate Diff
0.7%
Rate difference

Sparta, 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

Baxter Springs, KS

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Kansas State Tax
Effective: 5.6%
$8.4K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 30.3%
$45.4K
Take-Home Pay
$8,714/month
$104.6K

Additional Tax Information

Sparta, IL Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.8%
Property Tax:2.2%

Baxter Springs, KS Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.7%
Property Tax:1.3%

💡 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

Sparta
Baxter Springs
54 Moderate
Air Quality
51 Moderate
38%
Good Air Days
48.4%
99 High
Climate Risk
98 High
🌊🌡🫨
Top Hazards
🌊🌡🌪
▲+3.0°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.0°F
39 days
Heat Days >95°F
61 days
▲+3.0°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.0°F
39 days
Heat Days >95°F
61 days

Before moving from Sparta, IL to Baxter Springs, KS

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

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Baxter Springs, KS for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Sparta, 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 Sparta to Baxter Springs moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Baxter Springs, KS by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Sparta, IL vs Baxter Springs, KS

How do the cost estimates for Sparta, IL and Baxter Springs, KS compare?

Baxter Springs, KS has a modeled overall cost index 5.2% lower than Sparta, 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 Sparta, IL, the model estimates $146,354 in Baxter Springs, KS. 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 Sparta, IL and Baxter Springs, KS?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $920/month in Sparta, IL and $930/month in Baxter Springs, KS. 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 Kansas on TaxTakeHome.com

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