Carlinville, IL vs Mount Sterling, IL

Carlinville, IL and Mount Sterling, IL have a very similar cost of living, with only a 0.7% difference in their overall index. Carlinville scores 64 while Mount Sterling scores 65 on the cost of living index, where 100 represents the national average. The day-to-day expenses for residents in both cities are comparable, though differences emerge when looking at specific categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Carlinville is $736/month compared to $712/month in Mount Sterling — a 3% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Mount Sterling has cheaper rent, Carlinville actually has lower median home values ($108,000 vs $118,100).

Median household income in Carlinville is $52,738 compared to $63,922 in Mount Sterling (-17.5%). While Mount Sterling 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, more than the 13.4% in Mount Sterling.