Belleville, IL vs Charleston, IL

Belleville, IL and Charleston, IL have a very similar cost of living, with only a 4.8% difference in their overall index. Belleville scores 73 while Charleston scores 69 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 Belleville is $947/month compared to $819/month in Charleston — a 16% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Charleston has cheaper rent, Belleville actually has lower median home values ($131,000 vs $133,700).

Median household income in Belleville is $60,529 compared to $49,057 in Charleston (+23.4%). While Belleville is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Belleville spend roughly 18.8% of their income on rent, less than the 20% in Charleston.