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 87, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Illinois, Salem has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than Illinois's index of 98.
The standard of living in Salem ranks as #43 most affordable out of the 336 places we measured in Illinois. By definition, that implies Salem ranks as the #293 most expensive place in the Prairie State.
For more reading on life in Salem, check out:
Salem Cost Of Living Vs. Illinois
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Salem. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Salem is 101.
The Groceries index in Salem is 98.
The Health index in Salem is 52.
The Housing index in Salem is 101.
The Transportation index in Salem is 101.
The Utilities index in Salem is 96.
| Living Expense | Salem | Illinois | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 87 | 98 | 100 |
| Services | 101 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 98 | 99 | 100 |
| Health | 52 | 96 | 100 |
| Housing | 101 | 101 | 100 |
| Transportation | 101 | 99 | 100 |
| Utilities | 96 | 101 | 100 |
Salem 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 Salem Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
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 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Salem is $141,416.
The Median Rent in Salem is $774.
The Median Income in Salem is $59,728.
The Home Value To Income in Salem is 2.4x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Salem is 0.16x.
Salem, IL Costs By Category
Detailed Salem Services costs vs. Illinois
Detailed Salem Groceries costs vs. Illinois
Detailed Salem Health costs vs. Illinois
Detailed Salem Transportation costs vs. Illinois
Salem SnackAbility
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 105, 1.2x Salem.
Mount Vernon, IL has a cost of living index of 88, 1.0x Salem.
Effingham, IL has a cost of living index of 91, 1.0x Salem.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central, LA | 29,783 | 105 | 1.2x |
| Mount Vernon, IL | 14,090 | 88 | 1.0x |
| Effingham, IL | 12,342 | 91 | 1.0x |
| Highland, IL | 10,262 | 96 | 1.1x |
| Mascoutah, IL | 8,816 | 100 | 1.1x |
| Greenville, IL | 7,235 | 88 | 1.0x |
| Hillsboro, IL | 5,803 | 86 | 1.0x |
| Du Quoin, IL | 5,726 | 80 | 0.9x |
| Pinckneyville, IL | 5,018 | 83 | 1.0x |
