salaryRent here is among the lowest 10% of all U.S. cities. A typical house costs about 3.7 years of household income. Commutes are short, about 16.4 minutes. Most households rent (74%), so there are plenty of rental options.
How much money do I need?
To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $34,840 a year. That is $17 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 29 of 334 cities from cheapest to most expensive.
How much do households earn in Carbondale?
Share of households by yearly income. 8.9% of households earn $100,000 or more.
Rent by apartment size in Carbondale
| Size | Carbondale | U.S. average |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $631 | $1,338 |
| 1 bedroom | $708 | $1,324 |
| 2 bedrooms | $944 | $1,509 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,277 | $1,698 |
| 4 bedrooms | $977 | $2,098 |
Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.
How expensive is Carbondale 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 Carbondale, so the Illinois figure is shown.
Taxes and bills in Carbondale
Life in Carbondale
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Carbondale?
About the same. Renting and owning cost within $16 of each other each month.
Owning assumes a typical $127,900 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $12,790 for the down payment.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in Carbondale, IL?
Renting in Carbondale costs a median of about $871 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Illinois median is $1,517.
How much do I need to make to live in Carbondale?
To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $34,840 a year, or $17 an hour at a full-time job.
Is Carbondale cheap or expensive?
Carbondale is rated Expensive: rent takes 30.2% of the typical household income of $34,650. It ranks 29th cheapest of 334 Illinois cities we track.
How much are property taxes in Carbondale?
The median homeowner in Carbondale pays $3,166 a year in property taxes, about 2.48% of the median home value.
Is Carbondale 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 Carbondale?
The median home value in Carbondale is $127,900, about 3.7 times the typical yearly household income.
22,158 people live in Carbondale. Numbers are typical (middle) values.