East St. Louis, IL vs Pontoon Beach, IL

There is a significant gap in the cost of living between these two cities. East St. Louis is 29% cheaper than Pontoon Beach. With a cost index of 56 vs 78, the difference would have a meaningful impact on a household's monthly budget. Someone relocating from East St. Louis to Pontoon Beach should plan for substantially higher expenses across most categories.

On the housing front, median rent in East St. Louis is $597/month compared to $1,117/month in Pontoon Beach — a 47% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: East St. Louis is more affordable at $52,700 median vs $137,900.

Median household income in East St. Louis is $30,992 compared to $59,375 in Pontoon Beach (-47.8%). While Pontoon Beach is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of East St. Louis spend roughly 23.1% of their income on rent, more than the 22.6% in Pontoon Beach.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (56.5°F vs 56.5°F). Pontoon Beach receives more rainfall at 40.8" per year compared to 40.8" in East St. Louis.