Wonder Lake, IL vs Herculaneum, MO: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Herculaneum, MO has a modeled overall cost index 3.8% lower than Wonder Lake, IL.

Wonder Lake, IL · modeled 2BR rent
$1,640 / month
Herculaneum, MO · modeled 2BR rent
$1,830 / 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 Herculaneum, MO 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: $409/month in Herculaneum, MO

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $145,088 in Herculaneum, MO

Regional cost estimates: Wonder Lake, IL uses Milwaukee, WI. Herculaneum, MO uses St. Louis, MO. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↓ 3.8%
Less expensive
Monthly Impact
$409
Savings
Annual Impact
$4.9K
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

Herculaneum, MO

Population:5K
Cost Index:
79.6
100 = national average
Typical Home:$288K

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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.

Herculaneum, MO

The Show-Me State

5K
Population
State Tax
Yes

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

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Wonder Lake, IL vs Herculaneum, MO

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.

Healthcare
↓ 26.5%
Wonder Lake, IL
$803
Herculaneum, MO
$591
Difference
$213
less
Transportation
↓ 13.0%
Wonder Lake, IL
$1,499
Herculaneum, MO
$1,304
Difference
$195
less
Housing
↓ 2.1%
Wonder Lake, IL
$1,844
Herculaneum, MO
$1,806
Difference
$37.84
less
All Utilities
↑ 5.7%
Wonder Lake, IL
$568
Herculaneum, MO
$601
Difference
$32.54
more
Other
↑ 0.7%
Wonder Lake, IL
$1,712
Herculaneum, MO
$1,724
Difference
$11.46
more
Groceries
↓ 0.7%
Wonder Lake, IL
$1,072
Herculaneum, MO
$1,065
Difference
$7.63
less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$1,360
To$1,440
↑ $80.00
1 Bed
From$1,460
To$1,490
↑ $30.00
2 Bed
From$1,640
To$1,830
↑ $190
3 Bed
From$2,110
To$2,360
↑ $250
Wonder Lake, ILZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,460–$1,460/mo

Herculaneum, MOZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,490–$1,490/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
$7,091
Monthly in Herculaneum, MO
$409
Difference

Home Values

Wonder Lake
Herculaneum
$278K
Median Value
$288K
↑ +4.3%
YoY Change
↑ +5.2%
↑ +42.4%
5-Year Change
↑ +44.9%

Homes in Herculaneum are 4% more expensive than Wonder Lake

Calculate payment - Wonder LakeCalculate payment - Herculaneum

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↓ $504
More taxes
Monthly Difference
$42.00
Less take-home
Effective Rate Diff
0.3%
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

Herculaneum, MO

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Missouri State Tax
Effective: 5.3%
$7.9K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 30.0%
$44.9K
Take-Home Pay
$8,755/month
$105.1K

Additional Tax Information

Wonder Lake, IL Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.8%
Property Tax:2.2%

Herculaneum, MO Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.2%
Property Tax:1.0%

💡 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
Herculaneum
43 Good
Air Quality
54 Moderate
68.6%
Good Air Days
38%
98 High
Climate Risk
99 High
🌊🌡🌪
Top Hazards
🌊🌡🫨
▲+3.3°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.0°F
13 days
Heat Days >95°F
39 days
▲+3.3°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.0°F
13 days
Heat Days >95°F
39 days

Before moving from Wonder Lake, IL to Herculaneum, MO

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

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Herculaneum, MO 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 Herculaneum moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Wonder Lake, IL vs Herculaneum, MO

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

Herculaneum, MO has a modeled overall cost index 3.8% lower 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 $145,088 in Herculaneum, MO. 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 Herculaneum, MO?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,640/month in Wonder Lake, IL and $1,830/month in Herculaneum, MO. 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 Missouri on TaxTakeHome.com

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