Charleston, IL vs Vandalia, IL

Vandalia is moderately more affordable than Charleston, with a 9.7% lower cost of living index. Charleston scores 69 compared to 63 for Vandalia, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Charleston can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Charleston is $819/month compared to $738/month in Vandalia — a 11% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Vandalia is more affordable at $88,800 median vs $133,700.

Median household income in Charleston is $49,057 compared to $43,184 in Vandalia (+13.6%). While Charleston is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Charleston spend roughly 20% of their income on rent, less than the 20.5% in Vandalia.