Carlinville, IL vs Fairview Heights, IL

There is a significant gap in the cost of living between these two cities. Carlinville is 22% cheaper than Fairview Heights. With a cost index of 64 vs 83, the difference would have a meaningful impact on a household's monthly budget. Someone relocating from Carlinville to Fairview Heights should plan for substantially higher expenses across most categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Carlinville is $736/month compared to $1,177/month in Fairview Heights — a 38% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Carlinville is more affordable at $108,000 median vs $166,800.

Median household income in Carlinville is $52,738 compared to $77,960 in Fairview Heights (-32.4%). While Fairview Heights is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Carlinville spend roughly 16.7% of their income on rent, less than the 18.1% in Fairview Heights.