Athens, IL vs Crossville, IL

The cost of living difference between Athens, IL and Crossville, IL is dramatic. Crossville is 50.2% cheaper than Athens, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Athens has a cost index of 72 while Crossville sits at 48, making this one of the more striking comparisons on our site. Relocating between these cities would require a serious reassessment of budget and lifestyle expectations.

On the housing front, median rent in Athens is $893/month compared to $313/month in Crossville — a 185% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Crossville is more affordable at $61,300 median vs $164,200.

Median household income in Athens is $85,000 compared to $40,682 in Crossville (+108.9%). While Athens is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Athens spend roughly 12.6% of their income on rent, more than the 9.2% in Crossville.