Belleville, IL vs Sterling, IL

Sterling is moderately more affordable than Belleville, with a 10% lower cost of living index. Belleville scores 73 compared to 66 for Sterling, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Belleville can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Belleville is $947/month compared to $780/month in Sterling — a 21% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Sterling is more affordable at $107,800 median vs $131,000.

Median household income in Belleville is $60,529 compared to $52,647 in Sterling (+15%). 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, more than the 17.8% in Sterling.