Cost of Living, Taxes & Financial Comparison (2026)
Indiana is 13% cheaper to live in than Illinois overall.
Income Tax
Illinois: 4.95%
Indiana: 3.23%
Property Tax
Illinois: 0.85%
Indiana: 0.85%
Median Home
Illinois: $315,000
Indiana: $265,000
COL Index
Illinois: 104
Indiana: 90
State Income Tax
Top marginal rate
Property Tax Rate
% of home value annually
Median Home Price
2026 estimate
Avg. Insurance Cost
Home insurance annually
Cost of Living Index
100 = national average
Effective Tax Burden
Income + property tax combined
Illinois taxes income at up to <strong>4.95%</strong>, while Indiana's top rate is <strong>3.23%</strong>. On property taxes, Illinois charges 0.85% annually vs 0.85% in Indiana. On a $315,000 home in Illinois, that's $2,678/year in property taxes vs $2,253/year on a median-priced home in Indiana. Overall, Indiana has the lower combined tax burden.
The median home price in Illinois is $315,000 compared to $265,000 in Indiana — a difference of $50,000 (16%). Indiana offers more affordable homeownership, which is especially appealing for first-time buyers. Factor in property tax rates: annual taxes on a median home are $2,678 in Illinois vs $2,253 in Indiana.
Illinois's cost of living index is 104 and Indiana's is 90 (national average = 100).Indiana is approximately 13% cheaper overall. Home insurance also varies: Illinois averages $1,440/year vs $1,320/year in Indiana. Over 10 years, the cost of living difference could amount to tens of thousands of dollars in savings for residents of Indiana.
👴 Retirees
→ Indiana
Indiana has lower overall tax rates, better for fixed-income retirees.
👨👩👧 Families
→ Indiana
Indiana offers more affordable housing, which is critical for families needing space.
💼 High Earners
→ Indiana
Indiana has a lower top income tax rate, keeping more of high salaries in your pocket.
💻 Remote Workers
→ Indiana
Indiana's lower cost of living (index: 90) lets remote workers maximize purchasing power without sacrificing location.
Indiana has a lower cost of living index (90 vs 104). Indiana is approximately 13% cheaper overall.
Illinois has a 4.95% top income tax rate and 0.85% property tax rate. Indiana has a 3.23% top income tax rate and 0.85% property tax rate. Indiana has the lower combined burden.
Median home price in Illinois is $315,000 vs $265,000 in Indiana — a 16% difference of $50,000.
Both states have income taxes. Indiana has the lower overall tax burden, which matters on fixed retirement income.
Illinois's effective property tax rate is 0.85% vs 0.85% in Indiana. Indiana has the lower rate.
Illinois's cost-of-living index is 104 (US = 100) vs 90 for Indiana — a gap of 14 index points.
Small-business friendliness depends on income tax (4.95% vs 3.23%), corporate tax, sales tax, and licensing burden. Use the breakdown table on this page; for personalized analysis, consult a CPA.
Data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau (ACS), Tax Foundation, BLS OEWS wage tables, Zillow ZHVI, and Freddie Mac PMMS. Each value is timestamped and refreshed via our hourly ETL.
Live series (mortgage rates) refresh hourly. State-level tax tables refresh on each Tax Foundation release. Page caches revalidate every 24 hours via Next.js ISR.
No. This page provides an educational side-by-side using public data and standard formulas. It is not personalized tax, legal, or investment advice. Consult a licensed professional for material decisions.
State income tax shown is the top marginal rate from the Tax Foundation[1] and state DOR publications[3]. Effective rate on median income differs; the "effective tax burden" metric in the comparison table approximates income tax as (top marginal / 2) + property tax rate.
Property tax rate is the effective rate (taxes paid as % of owner-occupied home value)[1]. Actual millage rates vary by county and city; these are statewide averages.
Median home price is the Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI) statewide typical home value[2].
Cost of Living Index is the BEA Regional Price Parity[4] normalized so 100 = national average.
Homeowners insurance averages are NAIC HO-3 annual premiums[5].
Macro figures (unemployment, real median household income) come from FRED[6] and the Census ACS[7].
"Who wins by group" (retirees, families, high earners, remote workers) is a simplified decision framework; personal circumstances vary.
Last reviewed is the maximum retrievedAt timestamp across the datasets this page consumes.
State data sourced from Tax Foundation[1], U.S. Census Bureau[7], Zillow Research[2], and state revenue agencies[3]. Last reviewed .