Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Vienna and Alton, IL

For one person, living is cheaper in Alton, IL: $1,895 a month against $2,325 in Vienna, rent and utilities included – about $5,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Vienna
🇦🇹 Austria
$2,325
/mo nomad
Alton, IL
🇺🇸 United States
$1,895
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Vienna and in Alton, IL

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

A single person spends $2,325 per month in Vienna vs $1,895 in Alton, IL, rent included.

  • Vienna $2,325
  • Alton, IL $1,895

A couple spends around $3,463 per month in Vienna vs $2,862 in Alton, IL, rent included.

  • Vienna $3,463
  • Alton, IL $2,862

A family of three spends $4,601 per month in Vienna vs $3,829 in Alton, IL, rent included.

  • Vienna $4,601
  • Alton, IL $3,829

Vienna costs about 23% more than Alton, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both Vienna and Alton, IL sit above the global median – Vienna by 72%, Alton, IL by 40%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Vienna
Alton, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.39 €17.25
$20.77 $20.77
-6.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$90.4 €80.4
$55.6 $55.6
62.60%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.20 €11.74
$11.17 $11.17
18.17%
Cappuccino
$5.10 €4.54
$4.95 $4.95
3.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.89 €3.46
$1.46 $1.46
166.44%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17 €2.82
$1.74 $1.74
82.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.94 €5.28
$3.89 $3.89
52.70%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.56 €4.95
$5.88 $5.88
-5.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Vienna
Alton, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.58 €1.41
$0.81 $0.81
95.06%
White Bread (500g)
$2.13 €1.90
$2.59 $2.59
-17.76%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.59 €2.31
$3.13 $3.13
-17.25%
Eggs
$4.67 €4.16
$3.16 $3.16
47.78%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.04 €12.49
$9.32 $9.32
50.64%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.82 €12.29
$6.74 $6.74
105.04%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$22.63 €20.13
$23.42 $23.42
-3.37%
Apples (1kg)
$3.04 €2.71
$4.26 $4.26
-28.64%
Banana (1kg)
$2.20 €1.96
$1.18 $1.18
86.44%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.51 €3.12
$5.18 $5.18
-32.24%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.09 €3.64
$4.89 $4.89
-16.36%
Potato (1kg)
$1.99 €1.77
$2.21 $2.21
-9.95%
Onion (1kg)
$1.93 €1.72
$2.74 $2.74
-29.56%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.98 €1.76
$2.10 $2.10
-5.71%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.82 €0.73
$2.10 $2.10
-60.95%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.66 €6.81
$11.08 $11.08
-30.87%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.43 €7.50
$12.05 $12.05
-30.04%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.48 €1.32
$1.83 $1.83
-19.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.87 €1.66
$2.67 $2.67
-29.96%
🚌 Getting Around
Vienna
Alton, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.39 €3.01
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$56.3 €50.1
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.45 €4.85
$2.96 $2.96
84.12%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.10 €1.87
$1.69 $1.69
24.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$44.49 €39.57
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.08 €1.85
$0.98 $0.98
112.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.6K €27.2K
$27.9K $27.9K
9.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.0K €28.5K
$26.0K $26.0K
23.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Vienna
Alton, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$316 €281
$331 $331
-4.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.53 €12.92
$43.44 $43.44
-66.55%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.37 €28.80
$77.7 $77.7
-58.36%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Vienna
Alton, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.09 €34.77
$27.07 $27.07
44.40%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.05 €24.95
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.15 €12.59
$11.95 $11.95
18.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Vienna
Alton, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$373 €332
$279 $279
33.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$28.0K €24.9K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Vienna
Alton, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.5 €79.6
$40.36 $40.36
121.63%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.52 €35.15
$42.75 $42.75
-7.56%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.3 €81.2
$65.4 $65.4
39.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$135 €120
$76.1 $76.1
77.98%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Vienna
Alton, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,294 €1,151
$763 $763
69.52%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$960 €854
$627 $627
53.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,511 €2,234
$1,099 $1,099
128.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,560 €1,388
$1,275 $1,275
22.37%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$14.7K €13.1K
$1,513 $1,513
873.46%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,033 €5,366
$1,455 $1,455
314.62%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Vienna
Alton, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,519 €3,130
$3,813 $3,813
-7.70%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.41
6
-43.17%

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

Last update for Vienna: October 19, 2026

Last update for Alton, IL: October 18, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Vienna
$960
Alton, IL
$627 34.7% $333
Groceries & Markets
Vienna
$364
Alton, IL
$349 4.1% $15
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Vienna
$363
Alton, IL
$452 24.8% $90
Eating Out
Vienna
$325
Alton, IL
$303 6.8% $22
Clothing & Footwear
Vienna
$160
Alton, IL
$101 36.9% $59
Getting Around
Vienna
$86
Alton, IL
$11 * 86.7% $74
Sport & Entertainment
Vienna
$67
Alton, IL
$51 24.4% $16

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

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,294 in Vienna versus $763 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 8% 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 $90.0 in Vienna versus $56.0 in Alton, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $364 vs $349 – making Alton, IL the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇦🇹 Vienna
🇺🇸 Alton, IL
🕒 Local time
22:17 10:17 PM
15:17 3:17 PM
7 h behind Vienna
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,920,949 Capital
25,676
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of October 21, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 21, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Vienna Alton, IL 7,930 km ≈ 10 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Vienna
  • Alton, IL

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
Vienna vs Alton, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Vienna or Alton, IL?
Vienna costs about 23% more than Alton, IL, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from transport. 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 Vienna and in Alton, IL?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,487 per month in Vienna and $2,842 in Alton, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Vienna or Alton, IL?
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.
How much does it cost to live in Vienna compared to Alton, IL?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,325 in Vienna and $1,895 in Alton, IL. That's a gap of about 23%.
How do childcare costs compare in Vienna and in Alton, IL?
Kindergarten costs $373 per month in Vienna and $279 in Alton, IL. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Vienna or in Alton, IL?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Alton, IL, where all-in costs run around $1,895, than in Vienna at $2,325. In Alton, IL it covers expenses comfortably, while in Vienna it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for families?
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.
How safe is Vienna compared to Alton, IL?
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 Vienna or to Alton, IL?
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.

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