😐A single person spends $2,648 per month in Alton, IL vs $2,337 in Vienna, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,888 per month in Alton, IL vs $3,519 in Vienna, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $5,128 per month in Alton, IL vs $4,701 in Vienna, rent included.
😐Alton, IL costs about 13% more than Vienna, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊Both Alton, IL and Vienna sit above the global median – Alton, IL by 98%, Vienna by 74%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Alton, IL
Vienna
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.14$19.14
$17.58€14.99
8.87%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$66.6$66.6
$85.3€72.8
-21.89%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.83$11.83
$11.41€9.73
3.68%
Cappuccino
$4.99$4.99
$5.06€4.32
-1.38%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.18$2.18
$3.55€3.03
-38.59%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.93$1.93
$3.07€2.62
-37.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.03$5.03
$5.70€4.86
-11.75%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.65$6.65
$5.06€4.31
31.42%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Alton, IL
Vienna
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.78$0.78
$1.74€1.48
-55.17%
White Bread(500g)
$2.66$2.66
$2.78€2.37
-4.32%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$6.15$6.15
$2.74€2.34
124.45%
Eggs
$3.77$3.77
$4.46€3.81
-15.47%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.73$7.73
$17.04€14.53
-54.64%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.55$7.55
$14.98€12.78
-49.60%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.52$19.52
$23.74€20.25
-17.78%
Apples(1kg)
$6.73$6.73
$2.97€2.53
126.60%
Banana(1kg)
$2.54$2.54
$2.39€2.04
6.28%
Oranges(1kg)
$6.91$6.91
$3.50€2.99
97.43%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.18$5.18
$4.17€3.56
24.22%
Potato(1kg)
$5.02$5.02
$2.17€1.85
131.34%
Onion(1kg)
$4.28$4.28
$2.08€1.77
105.77%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.98$1.98
$1.96€1.67
1.02%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.54$2.54
$0.86€0.73
195.35%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.05$7.05
$7.70€6.57
-8.44%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.86$14.86
$8.34€7.11
78.18%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.90$1.90
$1.41€1.20
34.75%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.97$3.97
$2.02€1.72
96.53%
🚌 Getting Around
Alton, IL
Vienna
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.03$2.03
$2.70€2.30
-24.81%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$39.74€33.90
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.07$3.07
$4.74€4.04
-35.23%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.58$1.58
$2.06€1.76
-23.30%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.75$29.75
$38.90€33.18
-23.52%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.88$0.88
$1.91€1.63
-53.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.4K$29.4K
$31.5K€26.9K
-6.64%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.2K$25.2K
$33.0K€28.1K
-23.64%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Alton, IL
Vienna
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$239$239
$329€280
-27.30%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$50.8$50.8
$16.94€14.45
200.00%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$62.2$62.2
$40.09€34.20
55.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Alton, IL
Vienna
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.67$42.67
$48.17€41.09
-11.42%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$25.89€22.08
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.21$12.21
$13.86€11.82
-11.90%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Alton, IL
Vienna
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,289$1,289
$329€280
292.31%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$23.6K$23.6K
$23.2K€19.8K
1.64%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Alton, IL
Vienna
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.2$57.2
$101€86.0
-43.25%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.17$44.17
$44.92€38.32
-1.67%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$75.6$75.6
$101€86.0
-24.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$196$196
$159€136
23.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Alton, IL
Vienna
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,599$1,599
$1,235€1,053
29.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,349$1,349
$876€747
54.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,657$2,657
$2,278€1,943
16.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,266$2,266
$1,668€1,423
35.82%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,531$1,531
$13.9K€11.9K
-89.01%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,465$1,465
$6,419€5,476
-77.18%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Alton, IL
Vienna
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,837$3,837
$3,582€3,055
7.13%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.56
3.6
82.22%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Alton, IL: April 20, 2026
Last update for Vienna: April 22, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,599 in Alton, IL versus $1,235 in Vienna. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 7% higher in Alton, IL, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $67 in Alton, IL versus $85 in Vienna. Groceries tell a different story – $405 in Alton, IL vs $392 in Vienna – so Vienna wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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 Vienna: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Alton, IL or Vienna?
Alton, IL costs about 13% more than Vienna, with the gap driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Alton, IL vs Vienna?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,972 per month in Alton, IL and $3,505 in Vienna. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Alton, IL or Vienna?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Vienna, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Alton, IL compared to Vienna?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,648 in Alton, IL and $2,337 in Vienna. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do childcare costs compare in Alton, IL and Vienna?
Kindergarten costs $1,289 per month in Alton, IL and $329 in Vienna. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $3,000/month in Alton, IL or Vienna?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Vienna, where all-in costs run around $2,337, than in Alton, IL at $2,648. In Vienna it covers expenses comfortably, while in Alton, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward Vienna – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
How safe is Alton, IL compared to Vienna?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Alton, IL or Vienna?
If budget matters most, go with Vienna. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Alton, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.