St. Johns, MI vs Rockton, IL: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Rockton, IL has a modeled overall cost index 16.5% higher than St. Johns, MI.

St. Johns, MI · modeled 2BR rent
$1,080 / month
Rockton, IL · modeled 2BR rent
$1,170 / 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 St. Johns, MI and Rockton, 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

$
Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated extra cost: $1,092/month in Rockton, IL

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $163,104 in Rockton, IL

Regional cost estimates: St. Johns, MI uses Detroit, MI. Rockton, IL uses Madison, WI. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 16.5%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$1,092
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$13.1K
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.

St. Johns, MI

Population:8K
Cost Index:
82.3
100 = national average
Typical Home:$278K

Rockton, IL

Population:8K
Cost Index:
95.8
100 = national average
Typical Home:$278K

Planning the move to Rockton?

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

St. Johns, MI

The Great Lakes State

8K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Michigan, this city has a population of 8K residents.

Rockton, IL

The Prairie State

8K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Illinois, this city has a population of 8K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: St. Johns, MI vs Rockton, 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
↑ 72.5%
St. Johns, MI
$1,550
Rockton, IL
$2,674
Difference
$1,124
more
Transportation
↓ 12.5%
St. Johns, MI
$1,735
Rockton, IL
$1,518
Difference
$218
less
Healthcare
↑ 26.0%
St. Johns, MI
$644
Rockton, IL
$811
Difference
$167
more
Other
↑ 4.5%
St. Johns, MI
$1,849
Rockton, IL
$1,932
Difference
$82.92
more
All Utilities
↓ 9.9%
St. Johns, MI
$637
Rockton, IL
$574
Difference
$63.05
less
Groceries
↓ 0.1%
St. Johns, MI
$1,085
Rockton, IL
$1,083
Difference
$1.54
less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$830
To$810
↓ $20.00
1 Bed
From$860
To$890
↑ $30.00
2 Bed
From$1,080
To$1,170
↑ $90.00
3 Bed
From$1,390
To$1,550
↑ $160
St. Johns, MIZIP-level data

1BR range: $860–$860/mo

Rockton, ILZIP-level data

1BR range: $890–$890/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 St. Johns, MI
$8,592
Monthly in Rockton, IL
$1,092
Difference

Home Values

St. Johns
Rockton
$278K
Median Value
$278K
↑ +2.7%
YoY Change
↑ +7.7%
↑ +31.5%
5-Year Change
↑ +54.9%
Calculate payment - St. JohnsCalculate payment - Rockton

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↓ $1.1K
More taxes
Monthly Difference
$87.50
Less take-home
Effective Rate Diff
0.7%
Rate difference

St. Johns, MI

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Michigan State Tax
Effective: 4.3%
$6.4K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 28.9%
$43.4K
Take-Home Pay
$8,884/month
$106.6K

Rockton, 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

St. Johns, MI Tax Rates

Sales Tax:6.0%
Property Tax:1.4%

Rockton, 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

St. Johns
Rockton
55 Moderate
Air Quality
42 Good
32.8%
Good Air Days
72.1%
99 High
Climate Risk
94 Moderate
🌊🌡🌪
Top Hazards
🌊🌪💨
▲+3.1°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.4°F
10 days
Heat Days >95°F
10 days
▲+3.1°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.4°F
10 days
Heat Days >95°F
10 days

Before moving from St. Johns, MI to Rockton, 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 Rockton, IL for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in St. Johns, MI. 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 St. Johns to Rockton moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: St. Johns, MI vs Rockton, IL

How do the cost estimates for St. Johns, MI and Rockton, IL compare?

Rockton, IL has a modeled overall cost index 16.5% higher than St. Johns, MI. 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 St. Johns, MI, the model estimates $163,104 in Rockton, 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 St. Johns, MI and Rockton, IL?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,080/month in St. Johns, MI and $1,170/month in Rockton, 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 Michigan and Illinois on TaxTakeHome.com

Similar cost to Rockton, IL

Other cities in a similar price range

Austin, TXNashville, TNTampa, FL

Want to compare different cities?

New Comparison