Union City, OH vs Salem, IL: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Salem, IL has a modeled overall cost index 5.5% higher than Union City, OH.

Union City, OH · modeled 2BR rent
$1,000 / month
Salem, IL · modeled 2BR rent
$940 / 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 Union City, OH and Salem, 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: $276/month in Salem, IL

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $153,317 in Salem, IL

Regional cost estimates: Union City, OH uses Fort Wayne, IN. Salem, IL uses St. Louis, MO. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 5.5%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$276
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$3.3K
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.

Union City, OH

Population:7K
Cost Index:
77.8
100 = national average
Typical Home:$142K

Salem, IL

Population:7K
Cost Index:
82.1
100 = national average
Typical Home:$137K

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Union City, OH

The Buckeye State

7K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Ohio, this city has a population of 7K residents.

Salem, IL

The Prairie State

7K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Illinois, this city has a population of 7K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Union City, OH vs Salem, 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.

Other
↑ 8.6%
Union City, OH
$1,750
Salem, IL
$1,900
Difference
$150
more
Housing
↑ 3.5%
Union City, OH
$1,923
Salem, IL
$1,991
Difference
$68.08
more
Healthcare
↓ 9.3%
Union City, OH
$707
Salem, IL
$641
Difference
$65.53
less
All Utilities
↑ 6.9%
Union City, OH
$610
Salem, IL
$652
Difference
$41.93
more
Transportation
↑ 3.0%
Union City, OH
$1,396
Salem, IL
$1,437
Difference
$41.58
more
Groceries
↑ 3.6%
Union City, OH
$1,115
Salem, IL
$1,155
Difference
$40.19
more

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$820
To$680
↓ $140
1 Bed
From$830
To$790
↓ $40.00
2 Bed
From$1,000
To$940
↓ $60.00
3 Bed
From$1,330
To$1,220
↓ $110
Union City, OHZIP-level data

1BR range: $830–$830/mo

Salem, ILZIP-level data

1BR range: $790–$790/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 Union City, OH
$7,776
Monthly in Salem, IL
$276
Difference

Home Values

Union City
Salem
$142K
Median Value
$137K
↑ +4.7%
YoY Change
↑ +6.5%
↑ +51.6%
5-Year Change
↑ +38.4%

Homes in Salem are 3% less expensive than Union City

Calculate payment - Union CityCalculate payment - Salem

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↓ $3.0K
More taxes
Monthly Difference
$250
Less take-home
Effective Rate Diff
2.0%
Rate difference

Union City, OH

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Ohio State Tax
Effective: 3.0%
$4.4K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 27.6%
$41.4K
Take-Home Pay
$9,047/month
$108.6K

Salem, 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

Union City, OH Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.2%
Property Tax:1.6%

Salem, 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

Union City
Salem
45 Good
Air Quality
54 Moderate
62.6%
Good Air Days
38%
91 Moderate
Climate Risk
99 High
🌊🌪💨
Top Hazards
🌊🌡🫨
▲+3.1°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.0°F
17 days
Heat Days >95°F
39 days
▲+3.1°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.0°F
17 days
Heat Days >95°F
39 days

Before moving from Union City, OH to Salem, 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 Salem, IL for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Union City, OH. 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 Union City to Salem moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Union City, OH vs Salem, IL

How do the cost estimates for Union City, OH and Salem, IL compare?

Salem, IL has a modeled overall cost index 5.5% higher than Union City, OH. 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 Union City, OH, the model estimates $153,317 in Salem, 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 Union City, OH and Salem, IL?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,000/month in Union City, OH and $940/month in Salem, 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 Ohio and Illinois on TaxTakeHome.com

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