Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Alton, IL and Lakeland, FL

For one person, living is cheaper in Alton, IL: $1,910 a month against $2,613 in Lakeland, FL, rent and utilities included – about $8,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

92

Cost of Living Index in Alton, IL
Learn more

Alton, IL Living Index
127

Cost of Living Index in Lakeland, FL
Learn more

Lakeland, FL Living Index

Jump to prices

Alton, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$1,910

/mo nomad

Lakeland, FL

🇺🇸 United States

$2,613

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Alton, IL and in Lakeland, FL

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Alton, IL and in Lakeland, FL actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,910 per month in Alton, IL vs $2,613 in Lakeland, FL, rent included.

Alton, IL $1,910
Lakeland, FL $2,613

A couple spends around $2,881 per month in Alton, IL vs $3,873 in Lakeland, FL, rent included.

Alton, IL $2,881
Lakeland, FL $3,873

A family of three spends $3,852 per month in Alton, IL vs $5,133 in Lakeland, FL, rent included.

Alton, IL $3,852
Lakeland, FL $5,133

Alton, IL is about 27% cheaper than Lakeland, FL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Alton, IL and Lakeland, FL sit above the global median – Alton, IL by 40%, Lakeland, FL by 92%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$21.04 $21.04

$19.44 $19.44

8.23%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$55.0 $55.0

$81.2 $81.2

-32.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.83 $10.83

$12.15 $12.15

-10.86%

Cappuccino

$4.90 $4.90

$4.81 $4.81

1.87%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.46 $1.46

$2.19 $2.19

-33.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.75 $1.75

$1.77 $1.77

-1.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.12 $4.12

$3.45 $3.45

19.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.04 $6.04

$5.04 $5.04

19.84%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.75 $0.75

$1.06 $1.06

-29.25%

White Bread (500g)

$2.50 $2.50

$3.98 $3.98

-37.19%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.17 $3.17

$3.56 $3.56

-10.96%

Eggs

$3.19 $3.19

$5.08 $5.08

-37.20%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.53 $9.53

$12.33 $12.33

-22.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.70 $6.70

$13.36 $13.36

-49.85%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$24.15 $24.15

$14.26 $14.26

69.35%

Apples (1kg)

$4.47 $4.47

$5.99 $5.99

-25.38%

Banana (1kg)

$1.23 $1.23

$1.52 $1.52

-19.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.15 $5.15

$5.40 $5.40

-4.63%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.91 $4.91

$5.27 $5.27

-6.83%

Potato (1kg)

$2.16 $2.16

$2.97 $2.97

-27.27%

Onion (1kg)

$2.83 $2.83

$3.37 $3.37

-16.02%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.08 $2.08

$2.23 $2.23

-6.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.14 $2.14

$2.58 $2.58

-17.05%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.90 $10.90

$9.47 $9.47

15.10%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.13 $12.13

$13.67 $13.67

-11.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.81 $1.81

$1.77 $1.77

2.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.64 $2.64

$4.45 $4.45

-40.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.54 $1.54

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$46.49 $46.49

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.95 $2.95

$3.41 $3.41

-13.49%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.67 $1.67

$1.50 $1.50

11.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$58.9 $58.9

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 $0.99

$1.02 $1.02

-2.94%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$27.4K $27.4K

$28.3K $28.3K

-3.18%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.9K $26.9K

0.02%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$338 $338

$247 $247

37.18%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$44.08 $44.08

$46.37 $46.37

-4.94%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.4 $76.4

$62.8 $62.8

21.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$27.65 $27.65

$27.69 $27.69

-0.14%

Cinema Ticket

$12.15 $12.15

$15.02 $15.02

-19.11%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$280 $280

$648 $648

-56.80%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$25.0K $25.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$39.41 $39.41

$50.7 $50.7

-22.28%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.27 $42.27

$42.16 $42.16

0.26%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.2 $65.2

$74.5 $74.5

-12.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.8 $74.8

$92.7 $92.7

-19.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$740 $740

$1,601 $1,601

-53.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$631 $631

$1,307 $1,307

-51.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,107 $1,107

$2,660 $2,660

-58.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,281 $1,281

$2,255 $2,255

-43.17%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,534 $1,534

$2,346 $2,346

-34.61%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,426 $1,426

$1,950 $1,950

-26.89%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,767 $3,767

$3,859 $3,859

-2.39%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.52

-7.98%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Alton, IL: October 25, 2026

Last update for Lakeland, FL: October 24, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Alton, IL

$631 33%

Lakeland, FL

$1.3K 50% 107% $676

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Alton, IL

$459 24%

Lakeland, FL

$356 13.6% 22.4% $103

Groceries & Markets

Alton, IL

$352 18.4%

Lakeland, FL

$419 16% 19% $67

Eating Out

Alton, IL

$305 16%

Lakeland, FL

$293 11.2% 4% $12

Clothing & Footwear

Alton, IL

$100 5.2%

Lakeland, FL

$117 4.5% 17.3% $17

Sport & Entertainment

Alton, IL

$52 2.7%

Lakeland, FL

$58 2.2% 11.1% $5.8

Getting Around

Alton, IL

$11 * 0.6%

Lakeland, FL

$64 2.4% 462% $52

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $740 in Alton, IL versus $1,601 in Lakeland, FL. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $55 in Alton, IL versus $81 in Lakeland, FL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $352 vs $419 – making Alton, IL the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Alton, IL

🇺🇸 Lakeland, FL

🕒 Local time

13:30 1:30 PM

14:30 2:30 PM

1 h ahead of Alton, IL

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

25,676

108,054

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.896 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Alton, IL Lakeland, FL 1,430 km ≈ 2 h 15 min nonstop flight

From you

Alton, IL
Lakeland, FL

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Alton, IL vs Lakeland, FL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lakeland, FL costs about 37% more than Alton, IL, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,865 per month in Alton, IL and $3,919 in Lakeland, FL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Alton, IL, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $740 there versus $1,601 in Lakeland, FL.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,910 in Alton, IL and $2,613 in Lakeland, FL. That makes Alton, IL about 27% cheaper.

Kindergarten costs $280 per month in Alton, IL and $648 in Lakeland, FL. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Families tend to lean toward Alton, IL – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.