| Index | Granite City | Illinois | National |
| Cost of living | 83 | 98 | 100 |
| Groceries | 96 | 100 | 100 |
| Health care | 95 | 100 | 100 |
| Housing | 55 | 95 | 100 |
| Transportation | 97 | 101 | 100 |
| Utilities | 95 | 99 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 94 | 100 | 100 |
| Household Items | 95 | 100 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 94 | 100 | 100 |

Knowing the cost of living in Granite City 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 Granite City stands at 83, marking it 17% lower than the national average.
Housing costs often consume a significant share of your take-home income, often surpassing 30%. Fortunately, Granite City distinguishes itself by reporting housing expenses that are 45.4% below the national average. This indicates that both owning a home and renting in this area are notably more budget-friendly compared to the rest of the nation. With such favorable housing affordability, residents of Granite City can allocate more of their income to housing, enhancing their financial flexibility.
Is Granite City an affordable place to live? It's a good question and one that you might want to ask when considering any new city, as affordability can play a huge role in the decision making process. The cost of living index (which we covered above), as well as housing costs and income levels play a vital role in determining the affordability of an area. The median home price in Granite City is 54.1% lower than the national average, while the average monthly rent prices are 25.3% lower than average. The affordability of any location can also be influenced by median income levels. Granite City has a median household income of $79,625, which is 2.1% lower 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.
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 Granite City, the groceries index is 4.5% lower than the national average.
Utilities: As with the prices of anything else, utility costs can exhibit significant variations, contingent on factors like climate, energy source availability, geographic location and state regulations. The expenses associated with electricity, water, heating, and waste disposal can fluctuate, either upward or downward, depending on the particular city or state. In Granite City, the utilities index registers 5.1% lower than the national average.
The Granite City cost of living data above is designed around a U.S. average baseline of 100, allowing for easy comparisons of relative living costs. Housing incorporates U.S. Census home price and rental data, while all other figures are AI-assisted estimates that account for regional price trends, climate, transportation dynamics, and common everyday expenses. These values are best used as directional city-to-city comparisons.
| 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 | $97,407 | $8,117 | $2,273 | $2,923 |
| Renters | $38,646 | $3,221 | $902 | $1,159 |
| 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% |
| Granite City, IL | 29,235 | 83 | 16.9% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Benicia, CA | 29,204 | 168 | 68.4% |
| Henderson, KY | 29,267 | 88 | 11.8% |
| Burton, MI | 29,181 | 85 | 14.8% |
| Oakleaf Plantation, FL | 29,179 | 116 | 15.5% |
| Greenville, TX | 29,176 | 91 | 9.2% |
| Granite City, IL | 29,235 | 83 | 16.9% |