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 16.7 minutes.
How much money do I need?
To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $37,240 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 39 of 334 cities from cheapest to most expensive.
How much do households earn in Pontiac?
Share of households by yearly income. 16.5% of households earn $100,000 or more.
Rent by apartment size in Pontiac
| Size | Pontiac | U.S. average |
|---|---|---|
| 1 bedroom | $693 | $1,324 |
| 2 bedrooms | $955 | $1,509 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,160 | $1,698 |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,188 | $2,098 |
Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.
How expensive is Pontiac 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 Pontiac, so the Illinois figure is shown.
Taxes and bills in Pontiac
Life in Pontiac
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Pontiac?
Buying is cheaper month to month: about $124 a month less than renting.
Owning assumes a typical $116,300 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $11,630 for the down payment.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in Pontiac, IL?
Renting in Pontiac costs a median of about $931 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Illinois median is $1,517.
How much do I need to make to live in Pontiac?
To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $37,240 a year, or $18 an hour at a full-time job.
Is Pontiac cheap or expensive?
Pontiac is rated Cheap: rent takes 16.9% of the typical household income of $66,089. It ranks 39th cheapest of 334 Illinois cities we track.
How much are property taxes in Pontiac?
The median homeowner in Pontiac pays $2,495 a year in property taxes, about 2.15% of the median home value.
Is Pontiac 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 Pontiac?
The median home value in Pontiac is $116,300, about 1.8 times the typical yearly household income.
11,294 people live in Pontiac. Numbers are typical (middle) values.