States › Illinois › East Alton

Is East Alton, IL expensive to live in?

OKRent takes 22 cents of every $1 people earn here.
🏠 Rent per month (2026)$97444% lower than U.S. average
💵 Families earn per year (2026)$52,647about $4,387/month · 40% lower than U.S. average
🔑 House price$106,70068% lower than U.S. average

Rent is lower than in 89% 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 $38,960 a year. That is $19 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 48 of 334 cities from cheapest to most expensive.

East Alton
$974
Mount Zion
$823
Du Quoin
$795
Lake Holiday
$1,654
Vandalia
$860
Hillsboro
$791
Carterville
$1,191

How much do households earn in East Alton?

Under $25k
27.2%
$25k–50k
26.5%
$50k–100k
24.5%
$100k–150k
8.3%
$150k+
3.5%

Share of households by yearly income. 11.8% of households earn $100,000 or more.

Rent by apartment size in East Alton

SizeEast AltonU.S. average
1 bedroom$769$1,324
2 bedrooms$1,016$1,509

Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.

How expensive is East Alton overall?

Everyday prices in Illinois overall are same as the U.S. average (index 100.0, U.S. = 100).

Housing
94
Goods (food, clothes…)
104
Utilities
85
Other services
100
U.S. average
100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024. City-level data is not published for East Alton, so the Illinois figure is shown.

Taxes and bills in East Alton

🏛️ Property tax$2,323a year · 2.18% of home value · U.S. $3,119
⚡ Electric bill$209a month (typical) · U.S. $156

Life in East Alton

Commute to work21.8 minU.S.: 26.4 min
College degree16.4%U.S.: 35.7%
Own their home56.5%U.S.: 65.2%
Below poverty line20.8%U.S.: 12.5%
Unemployment3.3%U.S.: 5.2%

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in East Alton?

Buying is cheaper month to month: about $234 a month less than renting.

Renting
$974
Owning
$740

Owning assumes a typical $106,700 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $10,670 for the down payment.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average rent in East Alton, IL?

Renting in East Alton costs a median of about $974 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Illinois median is $1,517.

How much do I need to make to live in East Alton?

To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $38,960 a year, or $19 an hour at a full-time job.

Is East Alton cheap or expensive?

East Alton is rated OK: rent takes 22.2% of the typical household income of $52,647. It ranks 48th cheapest of 334 Illinois cities we track.

How much are property taxes in East Alton?

The median homeowner in East Alton pays $2,323 a year in property taxes, about 2.18% of the median home value.

Is East 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 East Alton?

The median home value in East Alton is $106,700, about 2.0 times the typical yearly household income.

5,689 people live in East Alton. Numbers are typical (middle) values.