Side-by-side tax comparison between Illinois (4.95% top rate) and Iowa (5.7% top rate).
| Salary | Illinois | Iowa | Difference | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $50K | $40,441 | $40,160 | −$281 | Illinois |
| $75K | $58,518 | $58,096 | −$422 | Illinois |
| $100K | $75,178 | $74,615 | −$563 | Illinois |
| $150K | $107,877 | $107,034 | −$844 | Illinois |
| $200K | $141,678 | $140,553 | −$1,125 | Illinois |
Illinois offers higher take-home pay at every salary level. Illinois's 4.95% top rate is more favorable than Iowa's 5.7%. At $100K, the difference is $563/year — that’s $47/month.
However, cost of living matters. Illinois has a cost index of 93 while Iowa is at 89. With similar costs of living, the tax difference is the main factor.