Cost of Living in East St. Louis, IL
Cost of Living in East St. Louis, IL has an overall index of 59, 41% below the U.S. baseline of 100. The typical home value is $52,700; typical monthly rent is $597; and median household income is $30,992.
Cost index: committed city housing/rent inputs and BEA 2024 metro-area price parities. Home value: Census ACS 2023 fallback place estimate. Rent: Census ACS 2023 fallback place estimate. A place-level signal, not a personal affordability decision or financial recommendation.
Rent and home prices are comparatively balanced with local income. This describes the local market, not your household.
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Frequently asked questions about East St. Louis
Living in East St. Louis
Is East St. Louis, IL an affordable place to live?+
Yes — everyday expenses in East St. Louis run about 41% below the US average (Cost Index: 59). Housing is especially affordable: the median home is valued around $52,700, compared to the $303,400 national median. Monthly rent is $597, versus $1,348 nationally.
How does East St. Louis fit a household housing budget?+
Start with housing. Typical monthly rent is $597, while local median household income is $30,992. That implies a rent-burden proxy of about 23% before utilities and other costs. Use that as a planning signal for whether the place looks manageable under your own household assumptions.
How much are taxes in East St. Louis, IL?+
Illinois uses a flat model; 4.95% is top marginal-rate context. Applying the 2.07% state-level effective owner-occupied proxy to a home worth $52,700 gives a planning estimate near $1,091 per year; it is not a city, county, parcel, or individual tax bill. State plus average local sales-tax context is around 8.82%.
How much does it cost to rent in East St. Louis, IL?+
The typical monthly rent in East St. Louis is around $597. That's roughly 56% lower than the $1,348 national median. For comparison, the median home value here is $52,700, so buyers should also factor in mortgage payments, property taxes, and insurance.
How much does a house cost in East St. Louis, IL?+
The typical home value in East St. Louis is $52,700. With 20% down and the committed 6.11% national 30-year fixed benchmark as of 2026-03-12, principal and interest are roughly $256/month before property tax and insurance. This is a planning estimate, not a local lender quote. About 54% of residents here own their homes.
Are groceries and utilities expensive in East St. Louis?+
Grocery prices in East St. Louis are about average compared to the rest of the US (index: 100, where 100 is the national average). Utility bills (electricity, gas, water) are below average (index: 70). Overall, these everyday costs shouldn't cause major surprises if you're moving from another similarly-sized US city.
What is East St. Louis, IL like to live in?+
East St. Louis is a small town with a population of about 18,278. The median age of residents is 45.1, skewing somewhat older — common in established suburban communities. The local poverty rate is 32.85%, above the national average of 12.4%.