What is the cost of living in Murphysboro, IL?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Murphysboro has an overall cost of living index of 83, which is 0.8x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Illinois, Murphysboro has a cost of living index that's 0.8x lower than Illinois's index of 98.
The standard of living in Murphysboro ranks as #13 most affordable out of the 336 places we measured in Illinois. By definition, that implies Murphysboro ranks as the #323 most expensive place in the Prairie State.
For more reading on life in Murphysboro, check out:
Murphysboro Cost Of Living Vs. Illinois
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Murphysboro. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Murphysboro is 98.
The Groceries index in Murphysboro is 98.
The Health index in Murphysboro is 44.
The Housing index in Murphysboro is 99.
The Transportation index in Murphysboro is 100.
The Utilities index in Murphysboro is 95.
| Living Expense | Murphysboro | Illinois | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 83 | 98 | 100 |
| Services | 98 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 98 | 99 | 100 |
| Health | 44 | 96 | 100 |
| Housing | 99 | 101 | 100 |
| Transportation | 100 | 99 | 100 |
| Utilities | 95 | 101 | 100 |
Murphysboro 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 Murphysboro Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Murphysboro, 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 Murphysboro is $113,681.
The Median Rent in Murphysboro is $697.
The Median Income in Murphysboro is $44,154.
The Home Value To Income in Murphysboro is 2.6x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Murphysboro is 0.19x.
| Statistic | Murphysboro | Illinois | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $113,681 | $285,735 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $697 | $1,274 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $44,154 | $83,390 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 2.6x | 3.4x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.19x | 0.18x | 0.21x |
Murphysboro, IL Costs By Category
Detailed Murphysboro Services costs vs. Illinois
| Item | Murphysboro | 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 Murphysboro Groceries costs vs. Illinois
| Item | Murphysboro | 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 Murphysboro Health costs vs. Illinois
| Item | Murphysboro | Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $125.72 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $124.51 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $100.78 | $113.29 |
Detailed Murphysboro Transportation costs vs. Illinois
| Item | Murphysboro | Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.2 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $50.0 | $59.92 |
Detailed Murphysboro Utilities costs vs. Illinois
| Item | Murphysboro | Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $133.84 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $188.69 | $192.25 |
Murphysboro SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Murphysboro
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Murphysboro. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Cape Girardeau, MO has a cost of living index of 92, 1.1x Murphysboro.
Carbondale, IL has a cost of living index of 90, 1.1x Murphysboro.
Marion, IL has a cost of living index of 88, 1.1x Murphysboro.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Murphysboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cape Girardeau, MO | 40,344 | 92 | 1.1x |
| Carbondale, IL | 22,158 | 90 | 1.1x |
| Marion, IL | 16,836 | 88 | 1.1x |
| Jackson, MO | 15,659 | 96 | 1.2x |
| Mount Vernon, IL | 14,090 | 88 | 1.1x |
| Herrin, IL | 12,226 | 86 | 1.0x |
| Perryville, MO | 8,536 | 91 | 1.1x |
| Chester, IL | 6,797 | 87 | 1.0x |
| Carterville, IL | 5,818 | 93 | 1.1x |
| Pinckneyville, IL | 5,018 | 83 | 1.0x |








