What is the cost of living in Metropolis, IL?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Metropolis has an overall cost of living index of 85, which is 0.8x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Illinois, Metropolis has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than Illinois's index of 98.
The standard of living in Metropolis ranks as #27 most affordable out of the 336 places we measured in Illinois. By definition, that implies Metropolis ranks as the #309 most expensive place in the Prairie State.
For more reading on life in Metropolis, check out:
Metropolis Cost Of Living Vs. Illinois
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Metropolis. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Metropolis is 95.
The Groceries index in Metropolis is 96.
The Health index in Metropolis is 54.
The Housing index in Metropolis is 98.
The Transportation index in Metropolis is 98.
The Utilities index in Metropolis is 95.
| Living Expense | Metropolis | Illinois | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 85 | 98 | 100 |
| Services | 95 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 96 | 99 | 100 |
| Health | 54 | 96 | 100 |
| Housing | 98 | 101 | 100 |
| Transportation | 98 | 99 | 100 |
| Utilities | 95 | 101 | 100 |
Metropolis 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 Metropolis Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Metropolis, 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 Metropolis is $117,764.
The Median Rent in Metropolis is $752.
The Median Income in Metropolis is $50,399.
The Home Value To Income in Metropolis is 2.3x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Metropolis is 0.18x.
| Statistic | Metropolis | Illinois | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $117,764 | $285,735 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $752 | $1,274 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $50,399 | $83,390 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 2.3x | 3.4x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.18x | 0.18x | 0.21x |
Metropolis, IL Costs By Category
Detailed Metropolis Services costs vs. Illinois
| Item | Metropolis | Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.23 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $13.11 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $16.17 | $18 |
| Haircut | $25.34 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $44.12 | $45.56 |
Detailed Metropolis Groceries costs vs. Illinois
| Item | Metropolis | Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.74 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.37 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.5 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.13 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $11.24 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $9.75 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.7 | $3.7 |
Detailed Metropolis Health costs vs. Illinois
| Item | Metropolis | Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $94.06 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $105.07 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $103.51 | $113.29 |
Detailed Metropolis Transportation costs vs. Illinois
| Item | Metropolis | Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.25 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $50.23 | $59.92 |
Detailed Metropolis Utilities costs vs. Illinois
| Item | Metropolis | Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $259.32 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $189.86 | $192.25 |
Metropolis SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Metropolis
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Metropolis. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Paducah, KY has a cost of living index of 89, 1.0x Metropolis.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Metropolis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paducah, KY | 26,845 | 89 | 1.0x |








