What is the cost of living in Mount Vernon, IL?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Mount Vernon has an overall cost of living index of 88, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Illinois, Mount Vernon has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than Illinois's index of 98.
The standard of living in Mount Vernon ranks as #52 most affordable out of the 336 places we measured in Illinois. By definition, that implies Mount Vernon ranks as the #284 most expensive place in the Prairie State.
For more reading on life in Mount Vernon, check out:
Mount Vernon Cost Of Living Vs. Illinois
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Mount Vernon. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Mount Vernon is 100.
The Groceries index in Mount Vernon is 99.
The Health index in Mount Vernon is 52.
The Housing index in Mount Vernon is 100.
The Transportation index in Mount Vernon is 100.
The Utilities index in Mount Vernon is 98.
| Living Expense | Mount Vernon | Illinois | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 88 | 98 | 100 |
| Services | 100 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 99 | 99 | 100 |
| Health | 52 | 96 | 100 |
| Housing | 100 | 101 | 100 |
| Transportation | 100 | 99 | 100 |
| Utilities | 98 | 101 | 100 |
Mount Vernon 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 Mount Vernon Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Mount Vernon, 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 Mount Vernon is $124,129.
The Median Rent in Mount Vernon is $910.
The Median Income in Mount Vernon is $55,357.
The Home Value To Income in Mount Vernon is 2.2x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Mount Vernon is 0.2x.
| Statistic | Mount Vernon | Illinois | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $124,129 | $285,735 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $910 | $1,274 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $55,357 | $83,390 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 2.2x | 3.4x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.2x | 0.18x | 0.21x |
Mount Vernon, IL Costs By Category
Detailed Mount Vernon Services costs vs. Illinois
| Item | Mount Vernon | 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 Mount Vernon Groceries costs vs. Illinois
| Item | Mount Vernon | 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 Mount Vernon Health costs vs. Illinois
| Item | Mount Vernon | Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $125.72 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $124.51 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $100.78 | $113.29 |
Detailed Mount Vernon Transportation costs vs. Illinois
| Item | Mount Vernon | Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.2 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $50.0 | $59.92 |
Detailed Mount Vernon Utilities costs vs. Illinois
| Item | Mount Vernon | Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $133.84 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $188.69 | $192.25 |
Mount Vernon SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Mount Vernon
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Mount Vernon. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Carbondale, IL has a cost of living index of 90, 1.0x Mount Vernon.
Marion, IL has a cost of living index of 88, 1.0x Mount Vernon.
Herrin, IL has a cost of living index of 86, 1.0x Mount Vernon.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Mount Vernon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carbondale, IL | 22,158 | 90 | 1.0x |
| Marion, IL | 16,836 | 88 | 1.0x |
| Herrin, IL | 12,226 | 86 | 1.0x |
| Mascoutah, IL | 8,816 | 100 | 1.1x |
| Greenville, IL | 7,235 | 88 | 1.0x |
| Murphysboro, IL | 6,735 | 83 | 0.9x |
| Carterville, IL | 5,818 | 93 | 1.1x |
| Pinckneyville, IL | 5,018 | 83 | 0.9x |
