East Alton, IL vs Farmington, IL

East Alton, IL and Farmington, IL have a very similar cost of living, with only a 0.6% difference in their overall index. East Alton scores 66 while Farmington scores 66 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 East Alton is $819/month compared to $877/month in Farmington — a 7% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while East Alton has cheaper rent, Farmington actually has lower median home values ($99,300 vs $99,600).

Median household income in East Alton is $46,926 compared to $64,313 in Farmington (-27%). Farmington 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 16.4% in Farmington.