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 13.9 minutes.
How much money do I need?
To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $25,760 a year. That is $12 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 4 of 334 cities from cheapest to most expensive.
How much do households earn in Salem?
Share of households by yearly income. 17.4% of households earn $100,000 or more.
Rent by apartment size in Salem
| Size | Salem | U.S. average |
|---|---|---|
| 1 bedroom | $492 | $1,324 |
| 2 bedrooms | $857 | $1,509 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,096 | $1,698 |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,597 | $2,098 |
Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.
How expensive is Salem 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 Salem, so the Illinois figure is shown.
Taxes and bills in Salem
Life in Salem
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Salem?
Renting is cheaper right now: about $92 a month less.
Owning assumes a typical $106,100 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $10,610 for the down payment.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in Salem, IL?
Renting in Salem costs a median of about $644 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Illinois median is $1,517.
How much do I need to make to live in Salem?
To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $25,760 a year, or $12 an hour at a full-time job.
Is Salem cheap or expensive?
Salem is rated Cheap: rent takes 12.0% of the typical household income of $64,417. It ranks 4th cheapest of 334 Illinois cities we track.
How much are property taxes in Salem?
The median homeowner in Salem pays $2,253 a year in property taxes, about 2.12% of the median home value.
Is Salem 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 Salem?
The median home value in Salem is $106,100, about 1.6 times the typical yearly household income.
7,236 people live in Salem. Numbers are typical (middle) values.