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 81, which is 0.8x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Illinois, Benton has a cost of living index that's 0.8x lower than Illinois's index of 98.
The standard of living in Benton ranks as #6 most affordable out of the 336 places we measured in Illinois. By definition, that implies Benton ranks as the #330 most expensive place in the Prairie State.
For more reading on life in Benton, check out:
Benton Cost Of Living Vs. Illinois
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Benton. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Benton is 99.
The Groceries index in Benton is 94.
The Health index in Benton is 48.
The Housing index in Benton is 99.
The Transportation index in Benton is 99.
The Utilities index in Benton is 95.
| Living Expense | Benton | Illinois | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 81 | 98 | 100 |
| Services | 99 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 94 | 99 | 100 |
| Health | 48 | 96 | 100 |
| Housing | 99 | 101 | 100 |
| Transportation | 99 | 99 | 100 |
| Utilities | 95 | 101 | 100 |
Benton 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 Benton Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
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 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Benton is $104,190.
The Median Rent in Benton is $798.
The Median Income in Benton is $54,123.
The Home Value To Income in Benton is 1.9x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Benton is 0.18x.
Benton, IL Costs By Category
Detailed Benton Services costs vs. Illinois
Detailed Benton Groceries costs vs. Illinois
Detailed Benton Health costs vs. Illinois
Detailed Benton Transportation costs vs. Illinois
Benton SnackAbility
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 90, 1.1x Benton.
Marion, IL has a cost of living index of 88, 1.1x Benton.
Mount Vernon, IL has a cost of living index of 88, 1.1x Benton.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Benton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carbondale, IL | 22,158 | 90 | 1.1x |
| Marion, IL | 16,836 | 88 | 1.1x |
| Mount Vernon, IL | 14,090 | 88 | 1.1x |
| Herrin, IL | 12,226 | 86 | 1.1x |
| West Frankfort, IL | 7,118 | 82 | 1.0x |
| Chester, IL | 6,797 | 87 | 1.1x |
| Murphysboro, IL | 6,735 | 83 | 1.0x |
| Carterville, IL | 5,818 | 93 | 1.1x |
| Pinckneyville, IL | 5,018 | 83 | 1.0x |
