East Alton, IL vs Farmer City, IL

There is a significant gap in the cost of living between these two cities. Farmer City is 15.2% cheaper than East Alton. With a cost index of 57 vs 66, the difference would have a meaningful impact on a household's monthly budget. Someone relocating from Farmer City to East Alton should plan for substantially higher expenses across most categories.

On the housing front, median rent in East Alton is $819/month compared to $500/month in Farmer City — a 64% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Farmer City has cheaper rent, East Alton actually has lower median home values ($99,600 vs $128,900).

Median household income in East Alton is $46,926 compared to $73,147 in Farmer City (-35.8%). Farmer City offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of East Alton spend roughly 20.9% of their income on rent, more than the 8.2% in Farmer City.