What is the cost of living in Effingham, IL?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Effingham has an overall cost of living index of 91, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Illinois, Effingham has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than Illinois's index of 98.
The standard of living in Effingham ranks as #78 most affordable out of the 336 places we measured in Illinois. By definition, that implies Effingham ranks as the #258 most expensive place in the Prairie State.
For more reading on life in Effingham, check out:
Effingham Cost Of Living Vs. Illinois
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Effingham. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Effingham is 97.
The Groceries index in Effingham is 98.
The Health index in Effingham is 72.
The Housing index in Effingham is 100.
The Transportation index in Effingham is 98.
The Utilities index in Effingham is 96.
| Living Expense | Effingham | Illinois | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 91 | 98 | 100 |
| Services | 97 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 98 | 99 | 100 |
| Health | 72 | 96 | 100 |
| Housing | 100 | 101 | 100 |
| Transportation | 98 | 99 | 100 |
| Utilities | 96 | 101 | 100 |
Effingham 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 Effingham Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Effingham, 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 Effingham is $226,768.
The Median Rent in Effingham is $725.
The Median Income in Effingham is $72,377.
The Home Value To Income in Effingham is 3.1x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Effingham is 0.12x.
Effingham, IL Costs By Category
Detailed Effingham Services costs vs. Illinois
Detailed Effingham Groceries costs vs. Illinois
Detailed Effingham Health costs vs. Illinois
Detailed Effingham Transportation costs vs. Illinois
Effingham SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Effingham
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Effingham. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Charleston, IL has a cost of living index of 85, 0.9x Effingham.
Mattoon, IL has a cost of living index of 85, 0.9x Effingham.
Olney, IL has a cost of living index of 81, 0.9x Effingham.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Effingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston, IL | 17,062 | 85 | 0.9x |
| Mattoon, IL | 16,586 | 85 | 0.9x |
| Olney, IL | 8,577 | 81 | 0.9x |
| Greenville, IL | 7,235 | 88 | 1.0x |
| Robinson, IL | 7,084 | 83 | 0.9x |
| Hillsboro, IL | 5,803 | 86 | 0.9x |
| Mount Zion, IL | 5,660 | 92 | 1.0x |
| Pana, IL | 5,217 | 84 | 0.9x |
