States › Illinois › Murphysboro

Is Murphysboro, IL expensive to live in?

CheapRent takes 19 cents of every $1 people earn here.
🏠 Rent per month (2026)$74458% lower than U.S. average
💵 Families earn per year (2026)$47,620about $3,968/month · 45% lower than U.S. average
🔑 House price$85,90074% 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.

How much money do I need?

To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $29,760 a year. That is $14 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 11 of 334 cities from cheapest to most expensive.

Murphysboro
$744
Orland Hills
$1,503
Volo
$1,790
Chester
$840
Geneseo
$968
Litchfield
$908
Mount Carmel
$937

How much do households earn in Murphysboro?

Under $25k
32.5%
$25k–50k
24.9%
$50k–100k
33.1%
$100k–150k
2.8%
$150k+
3.7%

Share of households by yearly income. 6.6% of households earn $100,000 or more.

Rent by apartment size in Murphysboro

SizeMurphysboroU.S. average
Studio$619$1,338
1 bedroom$691$1,324
2 bedrooms$907$1,509
3 bedrooms$974$1,698
4 bedrooms$1,201$2,098

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

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

Taxes and bills in Murphysboro

🏛️ Property tax$1,669a year · 1.94% of home value · U.S. $3,119
⚡ Electric bill$169a month (typical) · U.S. $156

Life in Murphysboro

Commute to work20.8 minU.S.: 26.4 min
College degree24.3%U.S.: 35.7%
Own their home49.8%U.S.: 65.2%
Below poverty line14.9%U.S.: 12.5%
Unemployment5.9%U.S.: 5.2%

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Murphysboro?

Buying is cheaper month to month: about $148 a month less than renting.

Renting
$744
Owning
$596

Owning assumes a typical $85,900 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $8,590 for the down payment.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average rent in Murphysboro, IL?

Renting in Murphysboro costs a median of about $744 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Illinois median is $1,517.

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

To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $29,760 a year, or $14 an hour at a full-time job.

Is Murphysboro cheap or expensive?

Murphysboro is rated Cheap: rent takes 18.7% of the typical household income of $47,620. It ranks 11th cheapest of 334 Illinois cities we track.

How much are property taxes in Murphysboro?

The median homeowner in Murphysboro pays $1,669 a year in property taxes, about 1.94% of the median home value.

Is Murphysboro 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 Murphysboro?

The median home value in Murphysboro is $85,900, about 1.8 times the typical yearly household income.

6,735 people live in Murphysboro. Numbers are typical (middle) values.