Edwardsville, IL vs Olney, IL

The cost of living difference between Edwardsville, IL and Olney, IL is dramatic. Olney is 45% cheaper than Edwardsville, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Edwardsville has a cost index of 94 while Olney sits at 65, making this one of the more striking comparisons on our site. Relocating between these cities would require a serious reassessment of budget and lifestyle expectations.

On the housing front, median rent in Edwardsville is $1,231/month compared to $769/month in Olney — a 60% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Olney is more affordable at $96,900 median vs $286,700.

Median household income in Edwardsville is $92,671 compared to $57,997 in Olney (+59.8%). While Edwardsville is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Edwardsville spend roughly 15.9% of their income on rent, less than the 15.9% in Olney.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (56.5°F vs 55.7°F). Olney receives more rainfall at 41.7" per year compared to 40.8" in Edwardsville.