| Index | Alton | Illinois | National |
| Cost of living | 84 | 98 | 100 |
| Groceries | 99 | 100 | 100 |
| Health care | 93 | 100 | 100 |
| Housing | 56 | 95 | 100 |
| Transportation | 97 | 101 | 100 |
| Utilities | 96 | 99 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 94 | 100 | 100 |
| Household Items | 97 | 100 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 96 | 100 | 100 |
Knowing the cost of living in Alton allows individuals to create a realistic budget. This helps them understand how their income will cover expenses and whether they need to make financial adjustments. The cost of living in any region can fluctuate due to various factors. To assess the cost of living consistently across different areas, a national average of 100 serves as the basis for the cost of living index. The cost of living in Alton stands at 84, marking it 16% lower than the national average.
It's not uncommon for housing expenses to eat up a substantial portion of your income, oten exceeding 30%. The good news is that Alton stands out by reporting housing costs that are 44.4% lower than the national average. This signifies that both homeownership and rental expenses in this region are considerably more affordable compared to the rest of the country. This favorable housing situation allows residents to allocate a more manageable portion of their income to housing, resulting in greater financial flexibility.
Is Alton affordable? This is a pivotal question, especially when mulling over a move, as affordability carries substantial weight in your decision-making process. Factors such as the cost of living index (discussed earlier), housing expenses and income levels all contribute to a location's affordability. For instance, in Alton, the median home price is 56.7% lower than the national average and monthly rent prices are 15.7% lower than the typical rates. Additionally, the median income levels play a role in affordability, with Alton boasting a median household income of $64,609, 20.6% lower than the national average.
Taxes: Areas with higher taxes, including sales taxes and income taxes, can contribute to a higher cost of living. Paying more tax for everyday household expenses like clothing and food will result in higher costs, as will paying a higher rate of income tax. The general sales tax rate in Alton starts at 6.25% and the income tax rates start at 4.95%.
Groceries: Grocery costs have continued to increase significantly over the last 2-3 years. In some markets the cost of food has gone up by more than 20% in that period. While other markets have managed to see only a moderate uptick. These food costs can have a major impact on the cost of living in any area. In Alton, the groceries index is 1.5% lower than the national average.
Transportation: If public transportation is limited or not available, residents may need to own and maintain vehicles, which can add to the cost of living. Gas, insurance, regular maintenance and potentially lease or finance payments will all need to be paid on a monthly basis. In Alton, the transportation index is 3.5% lower than the national average.
The Alton cost of living data displayed above uses a U.S. average baseline of 100 to provide a practical way to compare living expenses across cities. Housing estimates incorporate U.S. Census home price and rental data, while all other values are generated using AI-assisted models based on everyday expense expectations, regional pricing trends, climate, transportation patterns, and local economic conditions. These values are designed for directional city-to-city comparisons.
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| Groceries index | |
| Health care index | |
| Housing index | |
| Transportation index | |
| Utilities index | |
| Lifestyle index | |
| Household index | |
| Educare index |
| Median Income | Per Year | Per Month | Max Budget (28% DTI) | Max Budget (36% DTI) |
| Owners | $85,666 | $7,139 | $1,999 | $2,570 |
| Renters | $39,338 | $3,278 | $918 | $1,180 |
| State | General Sales Tax | With Max Surtax |
| Illinois | 6.25% | 10.25% |
| State | Income Tax (Low) | Income Tax (High) |
| Illinois | 4.95% | 4.95% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Otterville, IL | 201 | 77 | 23.4% |
| Royal Lakes, IL | 292 | 78 | 22.2% |
| Kinloch, MO | 344 | 79 | 20.8% |
| Riverview, MO | 2,906 | 81 | 19.4% |
| Mitchell, IL | 1,281 | 80 | 19.5% |
| Alton, IL | 27,407 | 84 | 16.0% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Vernon Hills, IL | 27,417 | 126 | 25.6% |
| Batavia, IL | 27,425 | 117 | 17.2% |
| Xenia, OH | 27,373 | 86 | 13.9% |
| Bayonet Point, FL | 27,360 | 93 | 7.2% |
| Winona, MN | 27,459 | 94 | 6.4% |
| Alton, IL | 27,407 | 84 | 16.0% |
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