Most Affordable Cities in Illinois

Cost of living rankings for 334 cities in Illinois with uncapped home, rent, and income estimates. On average, Illinois is near the national average with a statewide average Cost Index of 106.

1 source baseline is past its update cadence — newer official vintage not reflected

Cheapest City

East St. Louis

Index: 66

Most Expensive

Glencoe

Index: 266

State Average

106

National: 100

Cities Ranked

334

eligible statewide total

Illinois Affordability Ranking

Showing 1–50 of 334 eligible cities — 50 on this page. Page 1 of 7.

#	City	Index	Home Value	Rent	Income
1	East St. Louis	66	$36,286	$1,349	$35,700
2	Danville	67	$83,490	$868	$45,957
3	Cahokia Heights	68	$49,811	$1,288	$33,792
4	Kewanee	68	$85,306	$1,056	$50,886
5	Beardstown	68	$90,263	$930	$60,587
6	East Alton	68	$100,421	$900	$48,815
7	Hoopeston	68	$84,196	$956	$60,861
8	Harrisburg	69	$93,781	$930	$43,415
9	Alton	70	$104,934	$1,019	$54,568
10	Macomb	70	$112,965	$817	$44,411
11	Canton	70	$99,329	$930	$53,254
12	Centralia	70	$113,269	$930	$47,807
13	West Frankfort	70	$99,469	$930	$47,898
14	Robinson	70	$103,790	$930	$73,993
15	Du Quoin	70	$100,094	$930	$54,409
16	Galesburg	71	$108,393	$930	$48,297
17	Monmouth	71	$108,305	$930	$61,138
18	Paris	71	$112,922	$930	$53,927
19	Chester	71	$114,241	$930	$80,625
20	Pana	71	$113,006	$939	$46,168
21	Decatur	72	$107,246	$1,067	$51,592
22	Rock Island	72	$127,832	$952	$59,041
23	Granite City	72	$117,208	$999	$59,205
24	Carbondale	72	$147,669	$675	$32,128
25	Lincoln	72	$141,545	$962	$57,340
26	Herrin	72	$113,088	$996	$59,975
27	Rock Falls	72	$121,725	$945	$49,600
28	Benton	72	$118,719	$930	$54,123
29	Mount Carmel	72	$117,838	$992	$47,009
30	Murphysboro	72	$124,534	$930	$44,154
31	Metropolis	72	$126,022	$993	$50,399
32	Freeport	73	$130,806	$960	$51,723
33	Olney	73	$133,449	$935	$59,980
34	Litchfield	73	$132,117	$930	$53,958
35	Vandalia	73	$133,370	$930	$45,469
36	Pinckneyville	73	$129,937	$930	$69,583
37	Mattoon	74	$130,841	$950	$51,597
38	Rantoul	74	$142,056	$877	$48,691
39	Streator	74	$129,169	$1,052	$57,609
40	Taylorville	74	$139,431	$939	$57,552
41	Pekin	75	$144,443	$950	$60,790
42	East Moline	75	$150,846	$1,002	$61,779
43	Jacksonville	75	$142,951	$930	$65,432
44	Sterling	75	$146,139	$945	$57,350
45	Wood River	75	$135,087	$1,122	$62,703
46	Salem	75	$145,502	$930	$59,728
47	Hillsboro	75	$149,368	$930	$50,158
48	Carlinville	75	$152,030	$978	$57,708
49	Moline	76	$150,444	$1,061	$67,701
50	Charleston	76	$169,446	$754	$49,300

2026 edition — based on ACS 2024, Zillow 2026-08, HUD FY2027, and BEA 2024 dated sources. The edition year is not the observation year.

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