What is the cost of living in Charleston, IL?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Charleston has an overall cost of living index of 85, which is 0.8x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Illinois, Charleston has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than Illinois's index of 98.
The standard of living in Charleston ranks as #27 most affordable out of the 336 places we measured in Illinois. By definition, that implies Charleston ranks as the #309 most expensive place in the Prairie State.
For more reading on life in Charleston, check out:
Charleston Cost Of Living Vs. Illinois
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Charleston. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Charleston is 99.
The Groceries index in Charleston is 100.
The Health index in Charleston is 66.
The Housing index in Charleston is 99.
The Transportation index in Charleston is 98.
The Utilities index in Charleston is 96.
| Living Expense | Charleston | Illinois | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 85 | 98 | 100 |
| Services | 99 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 100 | 99 | 100 |
| Health | 66 | 96 | 100 |
| Housing | 99 | 101 | 100 |
| Transportation | 98 | 99 | 100 |
| Utilities | 96 | 101 | 100 |
Charleston 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 Charleston Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Charleston, 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 Charleston is $162,022.
The Median Rent in Charleston is $817.
The Median Income in Charleston is $49,300.
The Home Value To Income in Charleston is 3.3x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Charleston is 0.2x.
| Statistic | Charleston | Illinois | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $162,022 | $285,735 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $817 | $1,274 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $49,300 | $83,390 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 3.3x | 3.4x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.2x | 0.18x | 0.21x |
Charleston, IL Costs By Category
Detailed Charleston Services costs vs. Illinois
| Item | Charleston | Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.24 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $9.63 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $15.0 | $18 |
| Haircut | $18.5 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $30.0 | $45.56 |
Detailed Charleston Groceries costs vs. Illinois
| Item | Charleston | Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.92 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.62 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.75 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.14 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $13.25 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $9.97 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.71 | $3.7 |
Detailed Charleston Health costs vs. Illinois
| Item | Charleston | Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $150.0 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $146.67 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $205.92 | $113.29 |
Detailed Charleston Transportation costs vs. Illinois
| Item | Charleston | Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.45 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $67.33 | $59.92 |
Detailed Charleston Utilities costs vs. Illinois
| Item | Charleston | Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $216.89 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $190.03 | $192.25 |
Charleston SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Charleston
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Charleston. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Champaign, IL has a cost of living index of 97, 1.1x Charleston.
Urbana, IL has a cost of living index of 96, 1.1x Charleston.
Mattoon, IL has a cost of living index of 85, 1.0x Charleston.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Charleston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Champaign, IL | 89,996 | 97 | 1.1x |
| Urbana, IL | 39,341 | 96 | 1.1x |
| Mattoon, IL | 16,586 | 85 | 1.0x |
| Effingham, IL | 12,342 | 91 | 1.1x |
| Mahomet, IL | 10,049 | 107 | 1.3x |
| Savoy, IL | 8,968 | 107 | 1.3x |
| Monticello, IL | 6,304 | 97 | 1.1x |
| Mount Zion, IL | 5,660 | 92 | 1.1x |
| Pana, IL | 5,217 | 84 | 1.0x |
