salaryRent 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 $39,280 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 50 of 334 cities from cheapest to most expensive.
How much do households earn in Pekin?
Share of households by yearly income. 18.7% of households earn $100,000 or more.
Rent by apartment size in Pekin
| Size | Pekin | U.S. average |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $688 | $1,338 |
| 1 bedroom | $727 | $1,324 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,024 | $1,509 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,315 | $1,698 |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,473 | $2,098 |
Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.
How expensive is Pekin 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 Pekin, so the Illinois figure is shown.
Taxes and bills in Pekin
Life in Pekin
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Pekin?
Buying is cheaper month to month: about $145 a month less than renting.
Owning assumes a typical $120,700 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $12,070 for the down payment.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in Pekin, IL?
Renting in Pekin costs a median of about $982 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Illinois median is $1,517.
How much do I need to make to live in Pekin?
To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $39,280 a year, or $19 an hour at a full-time job.
Is Pekin cheap or expensive?
Pekin is rated Cheap: rent takes 18.0% of the typical household income of $65,562. It ranks 50th cheapest of 334 Illinois cities we track.
How much are property taxes in Pekin?
The median homeowner in Pekin pays $2,521 a year in property taxes, about 2.09% of the median home value.
Is Pekin 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 Pekin?
The median home value in Pekin is $120,700, about 1.8 times the typical yearly household income.
31,781 people live in Pekin. Numbers are typical (middle) values.