Decatur, IL vs Pekin, IL

Decatur, IL and Pekin, IL have a very similar cost of living, with only a 3.6% difference in their overall index. Decatur scores 62 while Pekin 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 Decatur is $796/month compared to $792/month in Pekin — a 1% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Pekin has cheaper rent, Decatur actually has lower median home values ($97,300 vs $118,200).

Median household income in Decatur is $50,809 compared to $58,355 in Pekin (-12.9%). While Pekin is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Decatur spend roughly 18.8% of their income on rent, more than the 16.3% in Pekin.