B+
6%
Overall NAT. AVG.
0%
Groceries NAT. AVG.
22%
Housing NAT. AVG.
Date & Last Updated: These cost of living estimates reflect 2026 modeled data using U.S. Census housing inputs and AI-assisted city-level pricing models.
The cost of living index is based on a national average of 100. For example, if the cost of living score is 90, then the estimated cost of living is 10% lower than the national average. If the score is 110, then the estimated cost of living is 10% higher than average. The overall index is calculated using weighted estimates across major everyday expense categories, including housing (30%), groceries (16%), transportation (12%), healthcare (10%), utilities (8%), lifestyle and entertainment (8%), household expenses (8%), and education and childcare (8%). All values are AI-assisted city-level estimates designed for directional comparisons.
Index Edwardsville Illinois National
Cost of living10698100
Groceries100100100
Health care98100100
Housing12295100
Transportation100101100
Utilities10299100
Lifestyle & Entertainment97100100
Household Items98100100
Education & Childcare99100100
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An Overview of Cost of Living in Edwardsville, IL

Knowing the cost of living in Edwardsville 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 Edwardsville stands at 106, marking it 6% higher than the national average.

Everyday expenditures like food, housing, lifestyle expenses, transportation and health care in Edwardsville are priced in a manner consistent with other areas. This means that residents of Edwardsville can anticipate their daily expenses remaining reasonably similar to those in an average city, thereby supporting a manageable cost of living.

Housing costs are a major factor in the Edwardsville cost of living index, and they often eat up a big chunk of your take-home pay. Unfortunately, in this area, housing expenses for both homeownership and rentals were 21.9% higher than what's typical in an average city. That includes the prices of homes and rents, as well as mortgage rates and insurance.

What Do Locals Say About the Cost of Living in Edwardsville?

The real experts on a city are its residents. That's why we reached out to 7 locals to get their views on the cost of living in Edwardsville. We surveyed the residents and asked them if they felt like prices were affordable or out of reach. The results were as follows. 14% found it budget-friendly with decreasing prices, while 86% said it's simply not affordable as prices have continued to rise.

Is Edwardsville Affordable?

Is Edwardsville an affordable place to live? That's a valid question to ask when you're thinking about moving to a new city. After all, how much it costs to live somewhere can be a huge factor in your decision. Affordability can be broken down into 3 common categories. The cost of living index (we talked about it earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a big role in figuring out if a place is affordable. For instance, in Edwardsville, the median home price is 33% higher than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 4% lower than the usual rates. Income levels in Edwardsville come in at $112,461, which is 38.3% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Edwardsville?

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 Edwardsville, the groceries index is 0.3% higher than the national average.

Transportation: In situations where public transportation is limited or nonexistent, local residents may be required to own and maintain their own vehicles, contributing to an elevated cost of living. Monthly expenditures may encompass fuel costs, insurance premiums, routine vehicle upkeep and possibly lease or financing payments. In Edwardsville, the transportation index is 0.2% higher than the national average.

Subsidies: Some cities and states may extend government subsidies or aid programs aimed at reducing the cost of living for their residents. These initiatives encompass diverse forms of support, including Medicare, Medicaid, housing subsidies, low-income home energy assistance programs, school lunch programs, supplemental nutrition assistance programs, student loans, electric vehicle tax credits, affordable care act subsidies and farm subsidies. Regions with limited subsidy provisions may witness an increase in their overall cost of living.

Where is the Data From?

The Edwardsville cost of living estimates above use a normalized U.S. average of 100 as the baseline for comparison. Housing values incorporate local home price and rental information from the U.S. Census, while all other estimates are AI-assisted and modeled using expected everyday expenses, local market trends, climate, and transportation-related cost pressures. The results are intended for practical city-to-city comparisons.

Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Edwardsville is 8% higher than the Illinois average
  • The cost of living in Edwardsville is 6% higher than the national average
  • Edwardsville housing is 22% higher than the national average
  • Illinois general sales tax is 22% higher than the national average
  • Illinois state income tax is 91% higher than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Edwardsville

See all the best places to live around Edwardsville

Compare Edwardsville, IL Cost of Living

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      Cost of living index
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      Utilities index
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      Educare index

      Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

      Median Income Per Year Per Month Max Budget (28% DTI) Max Budget (36% DTI)
      Owners$162,135$13,511$3,783$4,865
      Renters$57,286$4,774$1,337$1,719
      The affordability of the housing market in Edwardsville, IL as well as the overall cost of living can be predicted by what percent of the monthly income is spent on housing related costs. This is konwn as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). The overall rule of thumb is that no more than 28% of your gross income should be spent on the overall costs related to housing and no more than 36% of gross income on all expenses and debts. Among Edwardsville homeowners, the median income is $162,135. This indicates that a monthly maximum of $3,783 should be spent by homeowners on all housing related costs. Renters have a median income of $57,286. This indicates that renters would have a maximum of $1,337 for their rent related monthly costs.

      Illinois Sales Tax

      State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
      Illinois 6.25% 10.25%

      Illinois Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      Illinois 4.95% 4.95%

      Nearby cities with low cost of living

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Brooklyn, IL4457426.2%
      East St. Louis, IL27,0337722.5%
      Washington Park, IL3,9947921.4%
      Madison, IL3,0407921.2%
      Venice, IL2,0967920.8%
      Edwardsville, IL25,8391066.1%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Belvidere, IL25,8318910.7%
      Bainbridge Island, WA25,85018585.0%
      Champlin, MN25,86011211.6%
      Cave Spring, VA25,8141077.3%
      Ridgewood, NJ25,81018180.9%
      Edwardsville, IL25,8391066.1%
      Date & Last Updated: These cost of living estimates reflect 2026 modeled data using U.S. Census housing inputs and AI-assisted city-level pricing models.