Sterling, IL Cost Of Living

Demographics | Crime | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2025-10-24

Cost Of Living In Sterling, IL Summary

Cost of living in Sterling 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 Sterling 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 Sterling is 81, with 100 being the average.

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

  • Sterling ranks as the #15 cheapest in Illinois out of 336.

  • Sterling ranks as the #158 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.

  • The median home value in Sterling is $137,658.

  • The median income in Sterling is $52,647.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
81
Sterling's Overall Cost Of Living
0.8x
Lower Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in Sterling, IL?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Sterling has an overall cost of living index of 81, which is 0.8x lower than the national index of 100.

Compared to Illinois, Sterling has a cost of living index that's 0.8x lower than Illinois's index of 97.

The standard of living in Sterling ranks as #15 most affordable out of the 336 places we measured in Illinois. By definition, that implies Sterling ranks as the #321 most expensive place in the Prairie State.

For more reading on life in Sterling, check out:

15 out of 336
In Illinois
158 out of 6,489
In America

Sterling Cost Of Living Vs. Illinois

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

  • The Services index in Sterling is 90.

  • The Groceries index in Sterling is 96.

  • The Health index in Sterling is 101.

  • The Housing index in Sterling is 57.

  • The Transportation index in Sterling is 111.

  • The Utilities index in Sterling is 85.

Living Expense Sterling Illinois National Average
Overall 81 97 100
Services 90 95 100
Groceries 96 99 100
Health 101 93 100
Housing 57 95 100
Transportation 111 102 100
Utilities 85 91 100
For more reading on cost of living around Illinois, check out:
Sterling Cost of Living Vs. IL

Sterling, 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 2019-2023. The key points are:

  • The Median Home Value in Sterling is $137,658.

  • The Median Rent in Sterling is $780.

  • The Median Income in Sterling is $52,647.

  • The Home Value To Income in Sterling is 2.6x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Sterling is 0.18x.

Statistic Sterling Illinois United States
Median Home Value $137,658 $283,508 $303,400
Median Rent $780 $1,227 $1,348
Median Income $52,647 $81,702 $78,538
Home Value To Income 2.6x 3.5x 3.9x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.18x 0.18x 0.21x
$137,658
Median Home Value
$780
Median Rent
$52,647
Median Income

Sterling, IL Costs By Category

Detailed Sterling Services Costs Vs. Illinois

Item Sterling Illinois
Shampoo $1.27 $1.28
Movie $12.73 $12.13
Bowling $12.67 $18
Haircut $19.94 $24.26
Beauty Salon $36.22 $45.56

Detailed Sterling Groceries Costs Vs. Illinois

Item Sterling Illinois
Ground Beef $5.72 $5.84
Fried Chicken $1.42 $1.57
Milk $4.63 $4.67
Potatoes $4.82 $4.93
Pizza $10.99 $12.09
Beer $9.56 $10.41
Toothpaste $3.58 $3.7

Detailed Sterling Health Costs Vs. Illinois

Item Sterling Illinois
Optometrist $79.67 $125.68
Doctor $158.33 $135.78
Dentist $110.16 $113.29

Detailed Sterling Transportation Costs Vs. Illinois

Item Sterling Illinois
Gasoline $3.69 $3.46
Tire Balancing $70.28 $59.92

Detailed Sterling Utilities Costs Vs. Illinois

Item Sterling Illinois
All Electricity $147.39 $193.99
Phone $198.03 $192.25

Sterling SnackAbility

6
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
7/10
Housing
4
Affordability
8.5
Diversity
8.5
Safety
8
Amenities
9
Education
6
Commute
9.5

Cost Of Living In Cities Around Sterling

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

  • Moline, IL has a cost of living index of 88, 1.1x Sterling.

  • DeKalb, IL has a cost of living index of 93, 1.1x Sterling.

  • East Moline, IL has a cost of living index of 87, 1.1x Sterling.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Sterling
Moline, IL 42,235 88 1.1x
DeKalb, IL 40,464 93 1.1x
East Moline, IL 20,837 87 1.1x
Dixon, IL 15,166 80 1.0x
Peru, IL 9,863 89 1.1x
Rock Falls, IL 8,683 78 1.0x
Silvis, IL 7,939 93 1.1x
Mendota, IL 6,915 82 1.0x
Geneseo, IL 6,577 94 1.2x
Spring Valley, IL 5,508 82 1.0x

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