What is the cost of living in Wood River, IL?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Wood River has an overall cost of living index of 86, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Illinois, Wood River has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than Illinois's index of 98.
The standard of living in Wood River ranks as #35 most affordable out of the 336 places we measured in Illinois. By definition, that implies Wood River ranks as the #301 most expensive place in the Prairie State.
For more reading on life in Wood River, check out:
Wood River Cost Of Living Vs. Illinois
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Wood River. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Wood River is 100.
The Groceries index in Wood River is 92.
The Health index in Wood River is 57.
The Housing index in Wood River is 98.
The Transportation index in Wood River is 97.
The Utilities index in Wood River is 96.
| Living Expense | Wood River | Illinois | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 86 | 98 | 100 |
| Services | 100 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 92 | 99 | 100 |
| Health | 57 | 96 | 100 |
| Housing | 98 | 101 | 100 |
| Transportation | 97 | 99 | 100 |
| Utilities | 96 | 101 | 100 |
Wood River 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 Wood River Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Wood River, 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 Wood River is $127,547.
The Median Rent in Wood River is $936.
The Median Income in Wood River is $62,703.
The Home Value To Income in Wood River is 2.0x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Wood River is 0.18x.
| Statistic | Wood River | Illinois | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $127,547 | $285,735 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $936 | $1,274 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $62,703 | $83,390 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 2.0x | 3.4x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.18x | 0.18x | 0.21x |
Wood River, IL Costs By Category
Detailed Wood River Services costs vs. Illinois
| Item | Wood River | 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 Wood River Groceries costs vs. Illinois
| Item | Wood River | 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 Wood River Health costs vs. Illinois
| Item | Wood River | Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $125.72 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $124.51 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $100.78 | $113.29 |
Detailed Wood River Transportation costs vs. Illinois
| Item | Wood River | Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.2 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $50.0 | $59.92 |
Detailed Wood River Utilities costs vs. Illinois
| Item | Wood River | Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $133.84 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $188.69 | $192.25 |
Wood River SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Wood River
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Wood River. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Edwardsville, IL has a cost of living index of 104, 1.2x Wood River.
Alton, IL has a cost of living index of 86, 1.0x Wood River.
Collinsville, IL has a cost of living index of 91, 1.1x Wood River.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Wood River |
|---|---|---|---|
| Edwardsville, IL | 26,474 | 104 | 1.2x |
| Alton, IL | 25,279 | 86 | 1.0x |
| Collinsville, IL | 24,031 | 91 | 1.1x |
| Old Jamestown, MO | 20,651 | 102 | 1.2x |
| Godfrey, IL | 17,712 | 94 | 1.1x |
| Fairview Heights, IL | 16,745 | 95 | 1.1x |
| Glen Carbon, IL | 13,977 | 106 | 1.2x |
| Troy, IL | 11,647 | 102 | 1.2x |
| Bethalto, IL | 9,239 | 91 | 1.1x |
| Maryville, IL | 8,316 | 102 | 1.2x |
