Burlington, IL vs St. Elmo, IL

The cost of living difference between Burlington, IL and St. Elmo, IL is dramatic. St. Elmo is 50.9% cheaper than Burlington, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Burlington has a cost index of 95 while St. Elmo sits at 63, 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 Burlington is $1,196/month compared to $759/month in St. Elmo — a 58% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: St. Elmo is more affordable at $80,300 median vs $283,300.

Median household income in Burlington is $83,250 compared to $47,115 in St. Elmo (+76.7%). While Burlington is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Burlington spend roughly 17.2% of their income on rent, less than the 19.3% in St. Elmo.