salaryRent is lower than in 80% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs under 3 years of household income, which is easy by U.S. standards.
How much money do I need?
To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $45,520 a year. That is $22 an hour at a full-time job.
Is rent cheaper than other Illinois cities?
Yes. Rent here is cheaper than in most of Illinois. It is number 76 of 334 cities from cheapest to most expensive.
How much do households earn in Alton?
Share of households by yearly income. 15.4% of households earn $100,000 or more.
Rent by apartment size in Alton
| Size | Alton | U.S. average |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $767 | $1,338 |
| 1 bedroom | $790 | $1,324 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,166 | $1,509 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,389 | $1,698 |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,251 | $2,098 |
Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.
How expensive is Alton overall?
Everyday prices in Illinois overall are same as the U.S. average (index 100.0, U.S. = 100).
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024. City-level data is not published for Alton, so the Illinois figure is shown.
Taxes and bills in Alton
Life in Alton
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Alton?
Buying is cheaper month to month: about $418 a month less than renting.
Owning assumes a typical $103,700 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $10,370 for the down payment.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in Alton, IL?
Renting in Alton costs a median of about $1,138 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Illinois median is $1,517.
How much do I need to make to live in Alton?
To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $45,520 a year, or $22 an hour at a full-time job.
Is Alton cheap or expensive?
Alton is rated OK: rent takes 23.2% of the typical household income of $58,852. It ranks 76th cheapest of 334 Illinois cities we track.
How much are property taxes in Alton?
The median homeowner in Alton pays $1,900 a year in property taxes, about 1.83% of the median home value.
Is Alton more expensive than the national average?
Overall prices in Illinois are same as the U.S. average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.
How much does a house cost in Alton?
The median home value in Alton is $103,700, about 1.8 times the typical yearly household income.
25,279 people live in Alton. Numbers are typical (middle) values.