What is the cost of living in Alton, IL?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Alton has an overall cost of living index of 86, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Illinois, Alton has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than Illinois's index of 98.
The standard of living in Alton ranks as #35 most affordable out of the 336 places we measured in Illinois. By definition, that implies Alton ranks as the #301 most expensive place in the Prairie State.
For more reading on life in Alton, check out:
Alton Cost Of Living Vs. Illinois
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Alton. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Alton is 100.
The Groceries index in Alton is 93.
The Health index in Alton is 54.
The Housing index in Alton is 99.
The Transportation index in Alton is 95.
The Utilities index in Alton is 95.
| Living Expense | Alton | Illinois | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 86 | 98 | 100 |
| Services | 100 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 93 | 99 | 100 |
| Health | 54 | 96 | 100 |
| Housing | 99 | 101 | 100 |
| Transportation | 95 | 99 | 100 |
| Utilities | 95 | 101 | 100 |
Alton Cost Of Living Compared To Illinois Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Illinois, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in Alton Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Alton, IL Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in Illinois, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Alton is $103,096.
The Median Rent in Alton is $1,015.
The Median Income in Alton is $54,568.
The Home Value To Income in Alton is 1.9x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Alton is 0.22x.
Alton, IL Costs By Category
Detailed Alton Services costs vs. Illinois
Detailed Alton Groceries costs vs. Illinois
Detailed Alton Health costs vs. Illinois
Detailed Alton Transportation costs vs. Illinois
Alton SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Alton
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Alton. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Edwardsville, IL has a cost of living index of 104, 1.2x Alton.
Collinsville, IL has a cost of living index of 91, 1.1x Alton.
Spanish Lake, MO has a cost of living index of 84, 1.0x Alton.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Alton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Edwardsville, IL | 26,474 | 104 | 1.2x |
| Collinsville, IL | 24,031 | 91 | 1.1x |
| Spanish Lake, MO | 17,873 | 84 | 1.0x |
| Godfrey, IL | 17,712 | 94 | 1.1x |
| Glen Carbon, IL | 13,977 | 106 | 1.2x |
| Troy, IL | 11,647 | 102 | 1.2x |
| Wood River, IL | 10,279 | 86 | 1.0x |
| Bethalto, IL | 9,239 | 91 | 1.1x |
| Maryville, IL | 8,316 | 102 | 1.2x |
| Jerseyville, IL | 7,445 | 85 | 1.0x |
