Centralia, IL vs Sparta, IL

Centralia, IL and Sparta, IL have a very similar cost of living, with only a 3% difference in their overall index. Centralia scores 63 while Sparta 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 Centralia is $775/month compared to $722/month in Sparta — a 7% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Sparta has cheaper rent, Centralia actually has lower median home values ($81,600 vs $120,500).

Median household income in Centralia is $47,308 compared to $63,401 in Sparta (-25.4%). While Sparta is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Centralia spend roughly 19.7% of their income on rent, more than the 13.7% in Sparta.