Wood River, IL vs Rock Falls, IL: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Rock Falls, IL has a modeled overall cost index 10.5% higher than Wood River, IL.

Wood River, IL · modeled 2BR rent
$1,040 / month
Rock Falls, 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 Wood River, IL and Rock Falls, 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: $883/month in Rock Falls, IL

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $160,594 in Rock Falls, IL

Regional cost estimates: Wood River, IL uses St. Louis, MO. Rock Falls, IL uses Madison, WI. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 10.5%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$883
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$10.6K
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.

Wood River, IL

Population:10K
Cost Index:
80.6
100 = national average
Typical Home:$123K

Rock Falls, IL

Population:9K
Cost Index:
89.1
100 = national average
Typical Home:$114K

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Wood River, IL

The Prairie State

10K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Illinois, this city has a population of 10K residents.

Rock Falls, IL

The Prairie State

9K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Illinois, this city has a population of 9K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Wood River, IL vs Rock Falls, 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
↑ 34.8%
Wood River, IL
$1,915
Rock Falls, IL
$2,582
Difference
$667
more
Healthcare
↑ 30.6%
Wood River, IL
$622
Rock Falls, IL
$812
Difference
$190
more
Transportation
↑ 6.0%
Wood River, IL
$1,382
Rock Falls, IL
$1,465
Difference
$82.77
more
All Utilities
↓ 9.2%
Wood River, IL
$633
Rock Falls, IL
$574
Difference
$58.09
less
Other
↑ 2.1%
Wood River, IL
$1,827
Rock Falls, IL
$1,865
Difference
$37.92
more
Groceries
↓ 3.3%
Wood River, IL
$1,121
Rock Falls, IL
$1,084
Difference
$36.94
less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$820
To$690
↓ $130
1 Bed
From$850
To$740
↓ $110
2 Bed
From$1,040
To$940
↓ $100
3 Bed
From$1,340
To$1,240
↓ $100
Wood River, ILZIP-level data

1BR range: $850–$850/mo

Rock Falls, ILZIP-level data

1BR range: $740–$740/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 Wood River, IL
$8,383
Monthly in Rock Falls, IL
$883
Difference

Home Values

Wood River
Rock Falls
$123K
Median Value
$114K
↑ +2.1%
YoY Change
↑ +3.8%
↑ +29.4%
5-Year Change
↑ +36.9%

Homes in Rock Falls are 7% less expensive than Wood River

Calculate payment - Wood RiverCalculate payment - Rock Falls

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

Wood River, 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

Rock Falls, 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

Wood River, IL Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.8%
Property Tax:2.2%

Rock Falls, 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

Wood River
Rock Falls
54 Moderate
Air Quality
42 Good
38%
Good Air Days
72.1%
99 High
Climate Risk
94 Moderate
🌊🌡🫨
Top Hazards
🌊🌪💨
▲+3.0°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.4°F
39 days
Heat Days >95°F
10 days
▲+3.0°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.4°F
39 days
Heat Days >95°F
10 days

Before moving from Wood River, IL to Rock Falls, 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 Rock Falls, IL for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Wood River, 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 Wood River to Rock Falls moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Wood River, IL vs Rock Falls, IL

How do the cost estimates for Wood River, IL and Rock Falls, IL compare?

Rock Falls, IL has a modeled overall cost index 10.5% higher than Wood River, 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 Wood River, IL, the model estimates $160,594 in Rock Falls, 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 Wood River, IL and Rock Falls, IL?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,040/month in Wood River, IL and $940/month in Rock Falls, 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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