What is the cost of living in East Alton, IL?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, East Alton has an overall cost of living index of 85, which is 0.8x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Illinois, East Alton has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than Illinois's index of 98.
The standard of living in East Alton ranks as #27 most affordable out of the 336 places we measured in Illinois. By definition, that implies East Alton ranks as the #309 most expensive place in the Prairie State.
For more reading on life in East Alton, check out:
East Alton Cost Of Living Vs. Illinois
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in East Alton. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in East Alton is 100.
The Groceries index in East Alton is 92.
The Health index in East Alton is 55.
The Housing index in East Alton is 99.
The Transportation index in East Alton is 97.
The Utilities index in East Alton is 94.
| Living Expense | East Alton | Illinois | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 85 | 98 | 100 |
| Services | 100 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 92 | 99 | 100 |
| Health | 55 | 96 | 100 |
| Housing | 99 | 101 | 100 |
| Transportation | 97 | 99 | 100 |
| Utilities | 94 | 101 | 100 |
East Alton 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 East Alton Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
East Alton, 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 East Alton is $93,630.
The Median Rent in East Alton is $881.
The Median Income in East Alton is $48,815.
The Home Value To Income in East Alton is 1.9x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in East Alton is 0.22x.
| Statistic | East Alton | Illinois | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $93,630 | $285,735 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $881 | $1,274 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $48,815 | $83,390 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 1.9x | 3.4x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.22x | 0.18x | 0.21x |
East Alton, IL Costs By Category
Detailed East Alton Services costs vs. Illinois
| Item | East Alton | 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 East Alton Groceries costs vs. Illinois
| Item | East Alton | 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 East Alton Health costs vs. Illinois
| Item | East Alton | Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $125.72 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $124.51 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $100.78 | $113.29 |
Detailed East Alton Transportation costs vs. Illinois
| Item | East Alton | Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.2 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $50.0 | $59.92 |
Detailed East Alton Utilities costs vs. Illinois
| Item | East Alton | Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $133.84 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $188.69 | $192.25 |
East Alton SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around East Alton
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around East Alton. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Edwardsville, IL has a cost of living index of 104, 1.2x East Alton.
Alton, IL has a cost of living index of 86, 1.0x East Alton.
Collinsville, IL has a cost of living index of 91, 1.1x East Alton.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. East Alton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Edwardsville, IL | 26,474 | 104 | 1.2x |
| Alton, IL | 25,279 | 86 | 1.0x |
| Collinsville, IL | 24,031 | 91 | 1.1x |
| Godfrey, IL | 17,712 | 94 | 1.1x |
| Glen Carbon, IL | 13,977 | 106 | 1.2x |
| Troy, IL | 11,647 | 102 | 1.2x |
| Wood River, IL | 10,279 | 86 | 1.0x |
| Bethalto, IL | 9,239 | 91 | 1.1x |
| Maryville, IL | 8,316 | 102 | 1.2x |
| Jerseyville, IL | 7,445 | 85 | 1.0x |
