What is the cost of living in Glen Carbon, IL?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Glen Carbon has an overall cost of living index of 106, which is 1.1x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Illinois, Glen Carbon has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than Illinois's index of 98.
The standard of living in Glen Carbon ranks as #194 most affordable out of the 336 places we measured in Illinois. By definition, that implies Glen Carbon ranks as the #142 most expensive place in the Prairie State.
For more reading on life in Glen Carbon, check out:
Glen Carbon Cost Of Living Vs. Illinois
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Glen Carbon. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Glen Carbon is 99.
The Groceries index in Glen Carbon is 96.
The Health index in Glen Carbon is 116.
The Housing index in Glen Carbon is 101.
The Transportation index in Glen Carbon is 104.
The Utilities index in Glen Carbon is 96.
| Living Expense | Glen Carbon | Illinois | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 106 | 98 | 100 |
| Services | 99 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 96 | 99 | 100 |
| Health | 116 | 96 | 100 |
| Housing | 101 | 101 | 100 |
| Transportation | 104 | 99 | 100 |
| Utilities | 96 | 101 | 100 |
Glen Carbon 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 Glen Carbon Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Glen Carbon, 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 Glen Carbon is $331,014.
The Median Rent in Glen Carbon is $1,097.
The Median Income in Glen Carbon is $97,168.
The Home Value To Income in Glen Carbon is 3.4x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Glen Carbon is 0.14x.
| Statistic | Glen Carbon | Illinois | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $331,014 | $285,735 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,097 | $1,274 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $97,168 | $83,390 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 3.4x | 3.4x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.14x | 0.18x | 0.21x |
Glen Carbon, IL Costs By Category
Detailed Glen Carbon Services costs vs. Illinois
| Item | Glen Carbon | 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 Glen Carbon Groceries costs vs. Illinois
| Item | Glen Carbon | 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 Glen Carbon Health costs vs. Illinois
| Item | Glen Carbon | Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $125.72 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $124.51 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $100.78 | $113.29 |
Detailed Glen Carbon Transportation costs vs. Illinois
| Item | Glen Carbon | Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.2 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $50.0 | $59.92 |
Detailed Glen Carbon Utilities costs vs. Illinois
| Item | Glen Carbon | Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $133.84 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $188.69 | $192.25 |
Glen Carbon SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Glen Carbon
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Glen Carbon. 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, 1.0x Glen Carbon.
Edwardsville, IL has a cost of living index of 104, 1.0x Glen Carbon.
Collinsville, IL has a cost of living index of 91, 0.9x Glen Carbon.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Glen Carbon |
|---|---|---|---|
| O'Fallon, IL | 32,262 | 107 | 1.0x |
| Edwardsville, IL | 26,474 | 104 | 1.0x |
| Collinsville, IL | 24,031 | 91 | 0.9x |
| Godfrey, IL | 17,712 | 94 | 0.9x |
| Swansea, IL | 14,710 | 100 | 0.9x |
| Shiloh, IL | 14,572 | 104 | 1.0x |
| Troy, IL | 11,647 | 102 | 1.0x |
| Highland, IL | 10,262 | 96 | 0.9x |
| Bethalto, IL | 9,239 | 91 | 0.9x |
| Mascoutah, IL | 8,816 | 100 | 0.9x |








