Carlinville, IL vs Jonesboro, IL

There is a significant gap in the cost of living between these two cities. Jonesboro is 18% cheaper than Carlinville. With a cost index of 55 vs 64, the difference would have a meaningful impact on a household's monthly budget. Someone relocating from Jonesboro to Carlinville should plan for substantially higher expenses across most categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Carlinville is $736/month compared to $498/month in Jonesboro — a 48% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Jonesboro has cheaper rent, Carlinville actually has lower median home values ($108,000 vs $114,400).

Median household income in Carlinville is $52,738 compared to $58,309 in Jonesboro (-9.6%). Jonesboro offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Carlinville spend roughly 16.7% of their income on rent, more than the 10.2% in Jonesboro.