States › Illinois › Effingham

Is Effingham, IL expensive to live in?

CheapRent takes 14 cents of every $1 people earn here.
🏠 Rent per month (2026)$92747% lower than U.S. average
💵 Families earn per year (2026)$78,059about $6,505/month · 10% lower than U.S. average
🔑 House price$177,50047% lower than U.S. average

Rent 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 13.3 minutes.

How much money do I need?

To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $37,080 a year. That is $18 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 37 of 334 cities from cheapest to most expensive.

Effingham
$927
Streator
$942
Justice
$1,723
Rantoul
$1,333
Herrin
$1,106
Plano
$1,580
Winnetka
$2,037

How much do households earn in Effingham?

Under $25k
16.8%
$25k–50k
24.6%
$50k–100k
31.8%
$100k–150k
17.4%
$150k+
5.6%

Share of households by yearly income. 22.9% of households earn $100,000 or more.

Rent by apartment size in Effingham

SizeEffinghamU.S. average
Studio$696$1,338
1 bedroom$714$1,324
2 bedrooms$838$1,509
3 bedrooms$1,131$1,698

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

How expensive is Effingham 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 Effingham, so the Illinois figure is shown.

Taxes and bills in Effingham

🏛️ Property tax$2,879a year · 1.62% of home value · U.S. $3,119
⚡ Electric bill$162a month (typical) · U.S. $156

Life in Effingham

Commute to work13.3 minU.S.: 26.4 min
College degree29.1%U.S.: 35.7%
Own their home66.1%U.S.: 65.2%
Below poverty line14.6%U.S.: 12.5%
Unemployment2.6%U.S.: 5.2%

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Effingham?

Renting is cheaper right now: about $305 a month less.

Renting
$927
Owning
$1,232

Owning assumes a typical $177,500 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $17,750 for the down payment.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average rent in Effingham, IL?

Renting in Effingham costs a median of about $927 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Illinois median is $1,517.

How much do I need to make to live in Effingham?

To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $37,080 a year, or $18 an hour at a full-time job.

Is Effingham cheap or expensive?

Effingham is rated Cheap: rent takes 14.3% of the typical household income of $78,059. It ranks 37th cheapest of 334 Illinois cities we track.

How much are property taxes in Effingham?

The median homeowner in Effingham pays $2,879 a year in property taxes, about 1.62% of the median home value.

Is Effingham 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 Effingham?

The median home value in Effingham is $177,500, about 2.3 times the typical yearly household income.

12,342 people live in Effingham. Numbers are typical (middle) values.