Auburn, IL vs Effingham, IL

Auburn, IL and Effingham, IL have a very similar cost of living, with only a 4.2% difference in their overall index. Auburn scores 71 while Effingham scores 68 on the cost of living index, where 100 represents the national average. The day-to-day expenses for residents in both cities are comparable, though differences emerge when looking at specific categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Auburn is $911/month compared to $696/month in Effingham — a 31% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Effingham has cheaper rent, Auburn actually has lower median home values ($145,400 vs $166,700).

Median household income in Auburn is $79,475 compared to $65,718 in Effingham (+20.9%). While Auburn is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Auburn spend roughly 13.8% of their income on rent, more than the 12.7% in Effingham.