What is the cost of living in Chester, IL?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Chester has an overall cost of living index of 87, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Illinois, Chester has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than Illinois's index of 98.
The standard of living in Chester ranks as #43 most affordable out of the 336 places we measured in Illinois. By definition, that implies Chester ranks as the #293 most expensive place in the Prairie State.
For more reading on life in Chester, check out:
Chester Cost Of Living Vs. Illinois
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Chester. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Chester is 100.
The Groceries index in Chester is 101.
The Health index in Chester is 57.
The Housing index in Chester is 99.
The Transportation index in Chester is 95.
The Utilities index in Chester is 98.
| Living Expense | Chester | Illinois | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 87 | 98 | 100 |
| Services | 100 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 101 | 99 | 100 |
| Health | 57 | 96 | 100 |
| Housing | 99 | 101 | 100 |
| Transportation | 95 | 99 | 100 |
| Utilities | 98 | 101 | 100 |
Chester 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 Chester Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Chester, 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 Chester is $114,646.
The Median Rent in Chester is $760.
The Median Income in Chester is $80,625.
The Home Value To Income in Chester is 1.4x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Chester is 0.11x.
Chester, IL Costs By Category
Detailed Chester Services costs vs. Illinois
Detailed Chester Groceries costs vs. Illinois
Detailed Chester Health costs vs. Illinois
Detailed Chester Transportation costs vs. Illinois
Chester SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Chester
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Chester. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
O'Fallon, IL has a cost of living index of 107, 1.2x Chester.
Carbondale, IL has a cost of living index of 90, 1.0x Chester.
Fairview Heights, IL has a cost of living index of 95, 1.1x Chester.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| O'Fallon, IL | 32,262 | 107 | 1.2x |
| Carbondale, IL | 22,158 | 90 | 1.0x |
| Fairview Heights, IL | 16,745 | 95 | 1.1x |
| Swansea, IL | 14,710 | 100 | 1.1x |
| Shiloh, IL | 14,572 | 104 | 1.2x |
| Waterloo, IL | 11,129 | 99 | 1.1x |
| Columbia, IL | 11,127 | 103 | 1.2x |
| Mascoutah, IL | 8,816 | 100 | 1.1x |
| Carterville, IL | 5,818 | 93 | 1.1x |
| Pinckneyville, IL | 5,018 | 83 | 1.0x |
