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St. Louis, MO-IL

Cost of living in Monroe County, IL

Part of the St. Louis Metro Area

Estimated monthly cost
$3,350/mo
for a single person, all categories combined

Population 34,969 · Last updated May 21, 2026

Cost breakdown

Single person, by category, per month.

Rent $984 29%
Federal tax $761 23%
Healthcare $480 14%
Groceries $345 10%
Transport $320 10%
State tax $233 7%
Energy $177 5%
Water $50 1%

Rent in Monroe County

Fair Market Rents by bedroom count.

Studio
$951
per month
1 bedroom
$984
per month
2 bedroom
$1,215
per month
3 bedroom
$1,570
per month
4 bedroom
$1,806
per month

Source: HUD FMR FY2025

Income and earnings in Monroe County

Annual earnings figures from the Census ACS.

Household income
$101,635
per year
Individual earnings
$56,545
per year
Per capita
$49,438
per year

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year.

Home values in Monroe County

Average values reported by homeowners.

Average home value
$265,600
Annual property tax
$4,523

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year

Energy costs in Monroe County

Estimated monthly electricity and gas costs.

Electricity
$116
per month · 16.5¢/kWh
Natural gas
$61
per month
Annual total
$2,124
per year

Source: EIA

Healthcare in Monroe County

Insurance premiums and coverage rates.

Individual premium
$480
per month
Family premium
$1,350
per month
Uninsured rate
2.2%

Source: ACS + national avg. Marketplace benchmark premiums are second-lowest Silver plan estimates and do not reflect employer plans, subsidies, or out-of-pocket costs. This is not healthcare advice.

Taxes in Monroe County

State and local tax rates for Illinois.

State income tax
5.0%
Flat rate
State sales tax
6.3%
Combined sales tax
8.8%
incl. average local

Tax rates change. Consult a qualified tax professional for advice on your specific situation. This is not tax advice.

Transportation in Monroe County

Commute patterns and estimated costs.

Average commute
28.3 min
Drive alone
81.1%
Public transit
0.0%
Work from home
11.6%

Source: ACS

Monthly cost estimates for Monroe County

What it costs to live in Monroe County each month.

Single person
$3,350
per month
  • Rent $984
  • Energy $177
  • Water $50
  • Groceries $345
  • Transport $320
  • Healthcare $480
  • Federal tax $761
  • State tax $233
Couple
$5,096
per month
  • Rent $1,215
  • Energy $212
  • Water $60
  • Groceries $572
  • Transport $420
  • Healthcare $864
  • Federal tax $1,334
  • State tax $419
Family
$7,596
per month
  • Rent $1,570
  • Energy $266
  • Water $70
  • Groceries $867
  • Transport $520
  • Healthcare $1,350
  • Childcare $1,200
  • Federal tax $1,334
  • State tax $419

Frequently asked questions about Monroe County

Common questions about cost of living, rent and salary.

What is the average rent in Monroe County?

In Monroe County, IL, a one-bedroom apartment averages $984 per month, a two-bedroom averages $1,215 per month, a three-bedroom averages $1,570 per month, according to HUD Fair Market Rent data.

What is the average salary in Monroe County?

In Monroe County, IL, the average household income is $101,635 per year and individual earnings for full-time workers average $56,545 per year, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

What is the cost of living in Monroe County?

The estimated cost of living in Monroe County, IL is approximately $3,350 per month for a single person, $5,096 for a couple, $7,596 for a family. This includes rent, utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, and taxes.

What is the sales tax rate in Monroe County?

The combined sales tax rate in Monroe County, IL is 8.82%, which includes the Illinois state rate of 6.25% plus an average local rate of 2.57%.

Is Monroe County an affordable place to live?

Based on the data, a single person in Monroe County, IL would need approximately $3,350 per month to cover rent, utilities, food, transport, healthcare, and taxes. The average household income is $101,635 per year ($8,470 per month). Monroe County is relatively affordable compared to the national average.

How much does healthcare cost in Monroe County?

The ACA marketplace benchmark premium in Monroe County, IL is approximately $480 per month for an individual. Approximately 2.2% of residents are uninsured. Actual costs vary based on employer coverage, plan type, and individual circumstances.

What are house prices in Monroe County?

The average home value in Monroe County, IL is $265,600, with average annual property taxes of $4,523, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

How does Monroe County compare to other areas?

You can compare Monroe County, IL with any other US county using our comparison tool at /compare. Monroe County is in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area.

Other counties in Illinois

Browse the full list of counties in Illinois, ranked by cost of living.

See all counties in Illinois

Compare Monroe County with another area

Put two counties side by side to see how rent, taxes and everyday costs stack up.

About this data

All figures on this page come from official U.S. government sources, listed below.

  • HUD FMR FY2025
  • ACS 2019-2023 5-Year
  • EIA
  • ACS + national avg
  • ACS
  • USDA + BEA RPP
Methodology All data sources