Galena, IL vs Payson, IL

Galena, IL and Payson, IL have a very similar cost of living, with only a 1.1% difference in their overall index. Galena scores 73 while Payson scores 73 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 Galena is $773/month compared to $967/month in Payson — a 20% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Galena has cheaper rent, Payson actually has lower median home values ($118,000 vs $199,700).

Median household income in Galena is $55,765 compared to $62,262 in Payson (-10.4%). Payson offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Galena spend roughly 16.6% of their income on rent, less than the 18.6% in Payson.

Climate-wise, Payson is notably warmer with an average of 53°F compared to 47.2°F in Galena. Galena receives more rainfall at 38.2" per year compared to 36.4" in Payson.