| Index | Glen Carbon | Illinois | National |
| Cost of living | 105 | 98 | 100 |
| Groceries | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| Health care | 98 | 100 | 100 |
| Housing | 118 | 95 | 100 |
| Transportation | 100 | 101 | 100 |
| Utilities | 102 | 99 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 97 | 100 | 100 |
| Household Items | 98 | 100 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 99 | 100 | 100 |

Are you thinking about relocating, but curious about the potential cost of living in Glen Carbon? Is it more expensive or more affordable than average? Based on the most recent report, the cost of living in Glen Carbon stands at 105, making it 5% higher than the national average. The cost of living directly affects the affordability of one's desired lifestyle. Knowing the cost of housing, transportation, groceries and other essentials in the new area allows people to gauge whether they can maintain their preferred standard of living.
Everyday expenditures like food, housing, lifestyle expenses, transportation and health care in Glen Carbon are priced in a manner consistent with other areas. This means that residents of Glen Carbon can anticipate their daily expenses remaining reasonably similar to those in an average city, thereby supporting a manageable cost of living.
Is Glen Carbon 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 Glen Carbon, the median home price is 25.6% higher than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 1% higher than the usual rates. Income levels in Glen Carbon come in at $124,119, which is 52.6% higher than the national average.
Groceries: The costs associated with groceries have witnessed substantial increases over the past 2-3 years. In select markets, food prices have escalated by more than 20% during this timeframe, whereas others have seen more restrained upticks. The variances in food expenses can exert a considerable influence on the overall cost of living in a given locale. In Glen Carbon, the groceries index is 0.3% higher than the national average.
Utilities: Similar to the prices of any other goods or services, utility expenditures can exhibit substantial variability, influenced by factors such as climate, energy sources accessibility, geographical location and state regulations. Costs related to electricity, water, heating, and waste disposal can fluctuate, whether higher or lower, contingent on the city or state. In Glen Carbon, the utilities index is 1.6% higher than the national average.
Taxes: Cities that impose higher taxes, including sales and income taxes, can contribute to an escalated cost of living. The added expense of taxes on everyday goods like clothing and food naturally results in higher overall costs. Similarly, a higher income tax rate can further elevate the cost of living. In Glen Carbon, the general sales tax rate starts at 6.25%, and income tax rates begin at 4.95%.
The cost of living data for Glen Carbon shown above is based on a U.S. average baseline score of 100, making it easier to compare how far your dollar may go from one city to another. Housing uses U.S. Census home price and rental data, while all remaining values are AI-assisted estimates informed by regional pricing, climate, transportation dynamics, and local economic factors. These scores are best used for directional comparisons between cities.
| Cost of living index | |
| 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 | $160,978 | $13,415 | $3,756 | $4,830 |
| Renters | $70,763 | $5,897 | $1,651 | $2,123 |
| 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. |
| Brooklyn, IL | 445 | 74 | 26.2% |
| East St. Louis, IL | 27,033 | 77 | 22.5% |
| Alorton, IL | 2,149 | 78 | 22.3% |
| East Carondelet, IL | 330 | 78 | 22.2% |
| Centreville, IL | 5,098 | 78 | 22.0% |
| Glen Carbon, IL | 12,963 | 105 | 5.0% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Woodhaven, MI | 12,963 | 96 | 4.0% |
| Salisbury, NY | 12,962 | 146 | 45.9% |
| Kewanee, IL | 12,961 | 82 | 17.7% |
| Vinings, GA | 12,966 | 141 | 41.4% |
| Echelon, NJ | 12,954 | 118 | 17.9% |
| Glen Carbon, IL | 12,963 | 105 | 5.0% |