salaryRent here is among the lowest 10% of all U.S. cities. A typical house costs under 3 years of household income, which is easy by U.S. standards. Commutes are short, about 19 minutes.
How much money do I need?
To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $18,000 a year. That is $9 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 1 of 334 cities from cheapest to most expensive.
How much do households earn in Centralia?
Share of households by yearly income. 11.5% of households earn $100,000 or more.
Rent by apartment size in Centralia
| Size | Centralia | U.S. average |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $560 | $1,338 |
| 1 bedroom | $571 | $1,324 |
| 2 bedrooms | $948 | $1,509 |
| 3 bedrooms | $954 | $1,698 |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,409 | $2,098 |
Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.
How expensive is Centralia 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 Centralia, so the Illinois figure is shown.
Taxes and bills in Centralia
Life in Centralia
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Centralia?
Renting is cheaper right now: about $172 a month less.
Owning assumes a typical $89,600 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $8,960 for the down payment.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in Centralia, IL?
Renting in Centralia costs a median of about $450 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Illinois median is $1,517.
How much do I need to make to live in Centralia?
To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $18,000 a year, or $9 an hour at a full-time job.
Is Centralia cheap or expensive?
Centralia is rated Cheap: rent takes 10.5% of the typical household income of $51,560. It ranks 1st cheapest of 334 Illinois cities we track.
How much are property taxes in Centralia?
The median homeowner in Centralia pays $1,558 a year in property taxes, about 1.74% of the median home value.
Is Centralia 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 Centralia?
The median home value in Centralia is $89,600, about 1.7 times the typical yearly household income.
11,856 people live in Centralia. Numbers are typical (middle) values.