What is the cost of living in Carbondale, IL?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Carbondale has an overall cost of living index of 90, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Illinois, Carbondale has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than Illinois's index of 98.
The standard of living in Carbondale ranks as #69 most affordable out of the 336 places we measured in Illinois. By definition, that implies Carbondale ranks as the #267 most expensive place in the Prairie State.
For more reading on life in Carbondale, check out:
Carbondale Cost Of Living Vs. Illinois
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Carbondale. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Carbondale is 96.
The Groceries index in Carbondale is 97.
The Health index in Carbondale is 67.
The Housing index in Carbondale is 97.
The Transportation index in Carbondale is 99.
The Utilities index in Carbondale is 94.
| Living Expense | Carbondale | Illinois | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 90 | 98 | 100 |
| Services | 96 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 97 | 99 | 100 |
| Health | 67 | 96 | 100 |
| Housing | 97 | 101 | 100 |
| Transportation | 99 | 99 | 100 |
| Utilities | 94 | 101 | 100 |
Carbondale 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 Carbondale Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Carbondale, 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 Carbondale is $134,808.
The Median Rent in Carbondale is $771.
The Median Income in Carbondale is $32,128.
The Home Value To Income in Carbondale is 4.2x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Carbondale is 0.29x.
| Statistic | Carbondale | Illinois | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $134,808 | $285,735 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $771 | $1,274 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $32,128 | $83,390 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 4.2x | 3.4x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.29x | 0.18x | 0.21x |
Carbondale, IL Costs By Category
Detailed Carbondale Services costs vs. Illinois
| Item | Carbondale | Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.11 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $11.28 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $16.92 | $18 |
| Haircut | $21.19 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $40.57 | $45.56 |
Detailed Carbondale Groceries costs vs. Illinois
| Item | Carbondale | Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $6.4 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.36 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.5 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.28 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $10.84 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $9.47 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.75 | $3.7 |
Detailed Carbondale Health costs vs. Illinois
| Item | Carbondale | Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $125.72 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $124.51 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $100.78 | $113.29 |
Detailed Carbondale Transportation costs vs. Illinois
| Item | Carbondale | Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.2 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $50.0 | $59.92 |
Detailed Carbondale Utilities costs vs. Illinois
| Item | Carbondale | Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $133.84 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $188.69 | $192.25 |
Carbondale SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Carbondale
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Carbondale. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Marion, IL has a cost of living index of 88, 1.0x Carbondale.
Herrin, IL has a cost of living index of 86, 1.0x Carbondale.
Murphysboro, IL has a cost of living index of 83, 0.9x Carbondale.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Carbondale |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marion, IL | 16,836 | 88 | 1.0x |
| Herrin, IL | 12,226 | 86 | 1.0x |
| Murphysboro, IL | 6,735 | 83 | 0.9x |
| Carterville, IL | 5,818 | 93 | 1.0x |
| Du Quoin, IL | 5,726 | 80 | 0.9x |
