salaryRent is lower than in 69% 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 $51,880 a year. That is $25 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 119 of 334 cities from cheapest to most expensive.
How much do households earn in Wood River?
Share of households by yearly income. 19.1% of households earn $100,000 or more.
Rent by apartment size in Wood River
| Size | Wood River | U.S. average |
|---|---|---|
| 1 bedroom | $902 | $1,324 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,042 | $1,509 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,266 | $1,698 |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,855 | $2,098 |
Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.
How expensive is Wood River 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 Wood River, so the Illinois figure is shown.
Taxes and bills in Wood River
Life in Wood River
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Wood River?
Buying is cheaper month to month: about $547 a month less than renting.
Owning assumes a typical $108,100 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $10,810 for the down payment.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in Wood River, IL?
Renting in Wood River costs a median of about $1,297 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Illinois median is $1,517.
How much do I need to make to live in Wood River?
To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $51,880 a year, or $25 an hour at a full-time job.
Is Wood River cheap or expensive?
Wood River is rated OK: rent takes 23.0% of the typical household income of $67,625. It ranks 119th cheapest of 334 Illinois cities we track.
How much are property taxes in Wood River?
The median homeowner in Wood River pays $2,133 a year in property taxes, about 1.97% of the median home value.
Is Wood River 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 Wood River?
The median home value in Wood River is $108,100, about 1.6 times the typical yearly household income.
10,279 people live in Wood River. Numbers are typical (middle) values.