East Alton, IL vs Mount Olive, IL

Mount Olive is moderately more affordable than East Alton, with a 6.3% lower cost of living index. East Alton scores 66 compared to 62 for Mount Olive, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of East Alton can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in East Alton is $819/month compared to $698/month in Mount Olive — a 17% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Mount Olive is more affordable at $96,600 median vs $99,600.

Median household income in East Alton is $46,926 compared to $55,139 in Mount Olive (-14.9%). Mount Olive 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 15.2% in Mount Olive.