Buffalo Grove, IL vs East St. Louis, IL

The cost of living difference between Buffalo Grove, IL and East St. Louis, IL is dramatic. East St. Louis is 133.5% cheaper than Buffalo Grove, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Buffalo Grove has a cost index of 130 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 Buffalo Grove is $2,042/month compared to $597/month in East St. Louis — a 242% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: East St. Louis is more affordable at $52,700 median vs $392,900.

Median household income in Buffalo Grove is $129,820 compared to $30,992 in East St. Louis (+318.9%). While Buffalo Grove is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Buffalo Grove spend roughly 18.9% of their income on rent, less than the 23.1% in East St. Louis.