Benton, IL Cost Of Living

Demographics | Crime | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2025-10-24

Cost Of Living In Benton, IL Summary

Cost of living in Benton research summary. The cost of living index is set to 100 for the average place in the United States. A cost of living index above 100 means Benton is expensive. An index value below 100 means the city is a relatively cheap place to live.

On a city-by-city basis in Illinois, home prices and rent have the biggest impact on the cost of living. Here are the key takeaways based on Saturday Night Science:

  • The cost of living index in Benton is 86, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in Benton is 0.9x lower than the national average.

  • Benton ranks as the #54 cheapest in Illinois out of 336.

  • Benton ranks as the #639 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.

  • The median home value in Benton is $102,722.

  • The median income in Benton is $51,349.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
86
Benton's Overall Cost Of Living
0.9x
Lower Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in Benton, IL?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Benton has an overall cost of living index of 86, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.

Compared to Illinois, Benton has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than Illinois's index of 97.

The standard of living in Benton ranks as #54 most affordable out of the 336 places we measured in Illinois. By definition, that implies Benton ranks as the #282 most expensive place in the Prairie State.

For more reading on life in Benton, check out:

54 out of 336
In Illinois
639 out of 6,489
In America

Benton Cost Of Living Vs. Illinois

Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Benton. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:

  • The Services index in Benton is 98.

  • The Groceries index in Benton is 96.

  • The Health index in Benton is 87.

  • The Housing index in Benton is 52.

  • The Transportation index in Benton is 92.

  • The Utilities index in Benton is 122.

Living Expense Benton Illinois National Average
Overall 86 97 100
Services 98 95 100
Groceries 96 99 100
Health 87 93 100
Housing 52 95 100
Transportation 92 102 100
Utilities 122 91 100
For more reading on cost of living around Illinois, check out:
Benton Cost of Living Vs. IL

Benton, 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 2019-2023. The key points are:

  • The Median Home Value in Benton is $102,722.

  • The Median Rent in Benton is $776.

  • The Median Income in Benton is $51,349.

  • The Home Value To Income in Benton is 2.0x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Benton is 0.18x.

Statistic Benton Illinois United States
Median Home Value $102,722 $283,508 $303,400
Median Rent $776 $1,227 $1,348
Median Income $51,349 $81,702 $78,538
Home Value To Income 2.0x 3.5x 3.9x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.18x 0.18x 0.21x
$102,722
Median Home Value
$776
Median Rent
$51,349
Median Income

Benton, IL Costs By Category

Detailed Benton Services Costs Vs. Illinois

Item Benton Illinois
Shampoo $1.23 $1.28
Movie $13.11 $12.13
Bowling $16.17 $18
Haircut $25.34 $24.26
Beauty Salon $44.12 $45.56

Detailed Benton Groceries Costs Vs. Illinois

Item Benton Illinois
Ground Beef $5.74 $5.84
Fried Chicken $1.37 $1.57
Milk $4.5 $4.67
Potatoes $5.13 $4.93
Pizza $11.24 $12.09
Beer $9.75 $10.41
Toothpaste $3.7 $3.7

Detailed Benton Health Costs Vs. Illinois

Item Benton Illinois
Optometrist $94.06 $125.68
Doctor $105.07 $135.78
Dentist $103.51 $113.29

Detailed Benton Transportation Costs Vs. Illinois

Item Benton Illinois
Gasoline $3.25 $3.46
Tire Balancing $50.23 $59.92

Detailed Benton Utilities Costs Vs. Illinois

Item Benton Illinois
All Electricity $259.32 $193.99
Phone $189.86 $192.25

Benton SnackAbility

4
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
5/10
Housing
4
Affordability
8.5
Diversity
4
Safety
9.5
Amenities
8
Education
6
Commute
8

Cost Of Living In Cities Around Benton

The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Benton. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:

  • Carbondale, IL has a cost of living index of 87, 1.0x Benton.

  • Marion, IL has a cost of living index of 89, 1.0x Benton.

  • Mount Vernon, IL has a cost of living index of 83, 1.0x Benton.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Benton
Carbondale, IL 21,813 87 1.0x
Marion, IL 16,796 89 1.0x
Mount Vernon, IL 14,492 83 1.0x
Herrin, IL 12,271 89 1.0x
West Frankfort, IL 7,156 83 1.0x
Chester, IL 6,830 85 1.0x
Murphysboro, IL 6,804 82 1.0x
Carterville, IL 5,822 98 1.1x
Pinckneyville, IL 5,055 80 0.9x

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