Cost of Living Comparison Between Vienna and Alton, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Vienna and Alton, IL

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,417 per month in Vienna vs $2,015 in Alton, IL, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,660 per month in Vienna vs $2,960 in Alton, IL, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,902 per month in Vienna vs $3,905 in Alton, IL, rent included.

Vienna costs about 20% more than Alton, IL, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Vienna and Alton, IL sit above the global median – Vienna by 76%, Alton, IL by 47%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$21.03 €18.09

$14.87 $14.87

41.43%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$93.7 €80.6

$55.6 $55.6

68.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.99 €12.03

$8.17 $8.17

71.24%

Cappuccino

$5.44 €4.68

$4.72 $4.72

15.25%

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

$3.87 €3.33

$1.41 $1.41

174.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.28 €2.83

$1.09 $1.09

200.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.52 €5.61

$3.92 $3.92

66.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.94 €5.11

$4.87 $4.87

21.97%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.72 €1.48

$0.87 $0.87

97.70%

White Bread (500g)

$2.84 €2.45

$2.39 $2.39

18.83%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.79 €2.40

$3.11 $3.11

-10.29%

Eggs

$4.98 €4.28

$3.79 $3.79

31.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.94 €14.57

$12.21 $12.21

38.74%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.79 €12.73

$10.10 $10.10

46.44%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$24.25 €20.87

$17.76 $17.76

36.54%

Apples (1kg)

$3.21 €2.76

$4.28 $4.28

-25.00%

Banana (1kg)

$2.37 €2.04

$1.20 $1.20

97.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.71 €3.19

$4.95 $4.95

-25.05%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.49 €3.86

$4.86 $4.86

-7.61%

Potato (1kg)

$2.02 €1.73

$2.23 $2.23

-9.42%

Onion (1kg)

$1.91 €1.65

$2.83 $2.83

-32.51%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.11 €1.81

$2.03 $2.03

3.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.94 €0.81

$4.09 $4.09

-77.02%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.93 €6.82

$11.00 $11.00

-27.91%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.96 €7.71

$12.93 $12.93

-30.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.52 €1.31

$2.06 $2.06

-26.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.90 €1.63

$4.38 $4.38

-56.62%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.59 €3.09

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$59.0 €50.8

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.71 €4.91

$4.45 $4.45

28.31%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.20 €1.89

$2.93 $2.93

-24.91%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$46.68 €40.16

$17.75 $17.75

162.99%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.96 €1.69

$1.02 $1.02

92.16%

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

$31.2K €26.8K

$28.3K $28.3K

9.95%

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

$30.0K €25.8K

$26.8K $26.8K

11.99%

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

$325 €280

$438 $438

-25.70%

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

$14.92 €12.84

$44.51 $44.51

-66.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.82 €30.82

$64.8 $64.8

-44.69%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.65 €34.98

$27.22 $27.22

49.34%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.07 €25.01

Cinema Ticket

$15.36 €13.21

$14.52 $14.52

5.79%

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

$434 €373

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.2K €25.9K

$12.8K $12.8K

136.02%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$92.6 €79.7

$39.35 $39.35

135.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.68 €32.43

$33.24 $33.24

13.36%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.4 €76.1

$63.8 $63.8

38.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$142 €123

$74.8 $74.8

90.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,355 €1,166

$749 $749

81.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,005 €865

$641 $641

56.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,585 €2,225

$1,118 $1,118

131.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,656 €1,425

$1,309 $1,309

26.49%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$14.8K €12.8K

$1,562 $1,562

850.44%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,112 €5,259

$1,453 $1,453

320.52%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,574 €3,076

$3,799 $3,799

-5.92%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.48

-42.00%

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

Last update for Vienna: August 31, 2026

Last update for Alton, IL: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,355 in Vienna versus $749 in Alton, IL. 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 6% higher in Alton, IL, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $94.0 in Vienna versus $56.0 in Alton, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $401 vs $388 – making Alton, IL the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

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

Vienna costs about 20% more than Alton, IL, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,626 per month in Vienna and $3,023 in Alton, IL. 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. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,417 in Vienna and $2,015 in Alton, IL. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 3% more in Vienna, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Alton, IL, where all-in costs run around $2,015, than in Vienna at $2,417. In Alton, IL it covers expenses comfortably, while in Vienna it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Alton, IL. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Vienna makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.