Wonder Lake, IL vs Cortland, IL: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Cortland, IL has a modeled overall cost index 9.9% higher than Wonder Lake, IL.

Wonder Lake, IL · modeled 2BR rent
$1,640 / month
Cortland, IL · modeled 2BR rent
$1,900 / 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 Wonder Lake, IL and Cortland, 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: $915/month in Cortland, IL

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $160,984 in Cortland, IL

Regional cost estimates: Wonder Lake, IL uses Milwaukee, WI. Cortland, IL uses Chicago, IL. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 9.9%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$915
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$11.0K
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.

Wonder Lake, IL

Population:5K
Cost Index:
82.7
100 = national average
Typical Home:$278K

Cortland, IL

Population:4K
Cost Index:
90.9
100 = national average
Typical Home:$282K

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Wonder Lake, IL

The Prairie State

5K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Illinois, this city has a population of 5K residents.

Cortland, IL

The Prairie State

4K
Population
State Tax
Yes

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

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Wonder Lake, IL vs Cortland, 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
↑ 47.5%
Wonder Lake, IL
$1,844
Cortland, IL
$2,721
Difference
$877
more
Healthcare
↓ 20.4%
Wonder Lake, IL
$803
Cortland, IL
$640
Difference
$164
less
Transportation
↑ 10.5%
Wonder Lake, IL
$1,499
Cortland, IL
$1,657
Difference
$157
more
Groceries
↑ 3.2%
Wonder Lake, IL
$1,072
Cortland, IL
$1,107
Difference
$34.36
more
Other
↑ 1.2%
Wonder Lake, IL
$1,712
Cortland, IL
$1,733
Difference
$20.56
more
All Utilities
↓ 1.7%
Wonder Lake, IL
$568
Cortland, IL
$558
Difference
$9.89
less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$1,360
To$1,310
↓ $50.00
1 Bed
From$1,460
To$1,450
↓ $10.00
2 Bed
From$1,640
To$1,900
↑ $260
3 Bed
From$2,110
To$2,530
↑ $420
Wonder Lake, ILZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,460–$1,460/mo

Cortland, ILZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,450–$1,450/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 Wonder Lake, IL
$8,415
Monthly in Cortland, IL
$915
Difference

Home Values

Wonder Lake
Cortland
$278K
Median Value
$282K
↑ +4.3%
YoY Change
↑ +7.1%
↑ +42.4%
5-Year Change
↑ +57.4%

Homes in Cortland are 1% more expensive than Wonder Lake

Calculate payment - Wonder LakeCalculate payment - Cortland

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
→ $0
Same taxes
Monthly Difference
$0
Same take-home
Effective Rate Diff
0.0%
Rate difference

Wonder Lake, 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

Cortland, 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

Wonder Lake, IL Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.8%
Property Tax:2.2%

Cortland, 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

Wonder Lake
Cortland
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 Wonder Lake, IL to Cortland, 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 Cortland, IL for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Wonder Lake, 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 Wonder Lake to Cortland moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Wonder Lake, IL vs Cortland, IL

How do the cost estimates for Wonder Lake, IL and Cortland, IL compare?

Cortland, IL has a modeled overall cost index 9.9% higher than Wonder Lake, 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 Wonder Lake, IL, the model estimates $160,984 in Cortland, 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 Wonder Lake, IL and Cortland, IL?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,640/month in Wonder Lake, IL and $1,900/month in Cortland, 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.

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