Sheffield, IL vs Ste. Marie, IL

The cost of living difference between Sheffield, IL and Ste. Marie, IL is dramatic. Ste. Marie is 39.1% cheaper than Sheffield, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Sheffield has a cost index of 70 while Ste. Marie sits at 50, 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 Sheffield is $992/month compared to $263/month in Ste. Marie — a 277% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Ste. Marie has cheaper rent, Sheffield actually has lower median home values ($102,600 vs $103,900).

Median household income in Sheffield is $68,542 compared to $80,417 in Ste. Marie (-14.8%). Ste. Marie offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Sheffield spend roughly 17.4% of their income on rent, more than the 3.9% in Ste. Marie.

Climate-wise, Ste. Marie is notably warmer with an average of 55.7°F compared to 51.2°F in Sheffield. Ste. Marie receives more rainfall at 41.7" per year compared to 38.3" in Sheffield.