Salem, IL Cost Of Living

Demographics | Crime | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2023-11-15

Cost Of Living In Salem, IL Summary

Cost of living in Salem research summary. The cost of living index is set to 100 for the average place in the United States. A cost of living index above 100 means Salem is expensive. An index value below 100 means the city is a relatively cheap place to live.

On a city-by-city basis in Illinois, home prices and rent have the biggest impact on the cost of living. Here are the key takeaways based on Saturday Night Science:

  • The cost of living index in Salem is 78, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in Salem is 0.8x lower than the national average.

  • Salem ranks as the #5 cheapest in Illinois out of 338.

  • Salem ranks as the #113 cheapest out of 6,412 in the US.

  • The median home value in Salem is $80,800.

  • The median income in Salem is $51,559.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
78
Salem's Overall Cost Of Living
0.8x
Lower Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in Salem, IL?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Salem has an overall cost of living index of 78, which is 0.8x lower than the national index of 100.

Compared to Illinois, Salem has a cost of living index that's 0.8x lower than Illinois's index of 92.

The standard of living in Salem ranks as #5 most affordable out of the 338 places we measured in Illinois. By definition, that implies Salem ranks as the #333 most expensive place in the Prairie State.

For more reading on life in Salem, check out:

5 out of 338
In Illinois
113 out of 6,412
In America

Salem Cost Of Living Vs. Illinois

Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Salem. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:

  • The Services index in Salem is 92.

  • The Groceries index in Salem is 102.

  • The Health index in Salem is 91.

  • The Housing index in Salem is 45.

  • The Transportation index in Salem is 91.

  • The Utilities index in Salem is 97.

Living Expense Salem Illinois National Average
Overall 78 92 100
Services 92 95 100
Groceries 102 98 100
Health 91 96 100
Housing 45 81 100
Transportation 91 105 100
Utilities 97 90 100
For more reading on cost of living around Illinois, check out:
Salem Cost of Living Vs. IL

Salem, 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 2017-2021. The key points are:

  • The Median Home Value in Salem is $80,800.

  • The Median Rent in Salem is $691.

  • The Median Income in Salem is $51,559.

  • The Home Value To Income in Salem is 1.6x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Salem is 0.16x.

Statistic Salem Illinois United States
Median Home Value $80,800 $212,600 $244,900
Median Rent $691 $1,097 $1,163
Median Income $51,559 $72,563 $69,021
Home Value To Income 1.6x 2.9x 3.5x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.16x 0.18x 0.2x
Search Homes For Sale In Salem, IL
$80,800
Median Home Value
$691
Median Rent
$51,559
Median Income

Salem, IL Costs By Category

Detailed Salem Services Costs Vs. Illinois

Item Salem Illinois
Shampoo $1.1 $1.06
Movie $9.81 $10.68
Bowling $15.64 $14.67
Haircut $17.58 $18.62
Beauty Salon $38.54 $39.05

Detailed Salem Groceries Costs Vs. Illinois

Item Salem Illinois
Ground Beef $4.13 $4.22
Fried Chicken $1.67 $1.39
Milk $1.86 $2.05
Potatoes $2.98 $3.29
Pizza $9.9 $10.62
Beer $9.38 $9.38
Toothpaste $2.36 $2.34

Detailed Salem Health Costs Vs. Illinois

Item Salem Illinois
Optometrist $76.71 $108.57
Doctor $75.53 $116.17
Dentist $98.39 $99.13

Detailed Salem Transportation Costs Vs. Illinois

Item Salem Illinois
Gasoline $2.03 $2.22
Tire Balancing $41.83 $50.07

Detailed Salem Utilities Costs Vs. Illinois

Item Salem Illinois
All Electricity $149.35 $167.67
Phone $193.9 $175.64

Salem SnackAbility

5
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
5/10
Housing
4
Affordability
9
Diversity
4
Safety
6
Amenities
8
Education
6
Commute
10

Cost Of Living In Cities Around Salem

The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Salem. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:

  • Central, LA has a cost of living index of 96, 1.2x Salem.

  • Mount Vernon, IL has a cost of living index of 79, 1.0x Salem.

  • Effingham, IL has a cost of living index of 83, 1.1x Salem.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Salem
Central, LA 29,746 96 1.2x
Mount Vernon, IL 14,614 79 1.0x
Effingham, IL 12,218 83 1.1x
Highland, IL 10,215 88 1.1x
Mascoutah, IL 8,803 92 1.2x
Greenville, IL 6,676 86 1.1x
Hillsboro, IL 6,633 85 1.1x
Du Quoin, IL 5,842 77 1.0x
Pinckneyville, IL 5,262 81 1.0x

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