Braidwood, IL vs East St. Louis, IL

The cost of living difference between Braidwood, IL and East St. Louis, IL is dramatic. East St. Louis is 54.1% cheaper than Braidwood, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Braidwood has a cost index of 86 while East St. Louis sits at 56, 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 Braidwood is $1,089/month compared to $597/month in East St. Louis — a 82% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: East St. Louis is more affordable at $52,700 median vs $205,900.

Median household income in Braidwood is $83,365 compared to $30,992 in East St. Louis (+169%). While Braidwood is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Braidwood spend roughly 15.7% of their income on rent, less than the 23.1% in East St. Louis.