salaryRent is lower than in 77% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs under 3 years of household income, which is easy by U.S. standards. Commutes are short, about 18.1 minutes.
How much money do I need?
To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $47,320 a year. That is $23 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 86 of 334 cities from cheapest to most expensive.
How much do households earn in Sterling?
Share of households by yearly income. 18.0% of households earn $100,000 or more.
Rent by apartment size in Sterling
| Size | Sterling | U.S. average |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,086 | $1,338 |
| 1 bedroom | $836 | $1,324 |
| 2 bedrooms | $929 | $1,509 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,079 | $1,698 |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,080 | $2,098 |
Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.
How expensive is Sterling 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 Sterling, so the Illinois figure is shown.
Taxes and bills in Sterling
Life in Sterling
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Sterling?
Buying is cheaper month to month: about $429 a month less than renting.
Owning assumes a typical $108,700 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $10,870 for the down payment.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in Sterling, IL?
Renting in Sterling costs a median of about $1,183 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Illinois median is $1,517.
How much do I need to make to live in Sterling?
To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $47,320 a year, or $23 an hour at a full-time job.
Is Sterling cheap or expensive?
Sterling is rated OK: rent takes 23.0% of the typical household income of $61,852. It ranks 86th cheapest of 334 Illinois cities we track.
How much are property taxes in Sterling?
The median homeowner in Sterling pays $2,588 a year in property taxes, about 2.38% of the median home value.
Is Sterling 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 Sterling?
The median home value in Sterling is $108,700, about 1.8 times the typical yearly household income.
14,717 people live in Sterling. Numbers are typical (middle) values.