Cost of Living Comparison Between Bloomington, IL and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Bloomington, IL and Chicago, IL

πŸ™‚ Solo nomad: Bloomington, IL is 29.6% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 18% cheaper with rent.
πŸ™‚ Family of 3: Bloomington, IL is 32.6% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 28.2% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bloomington, IL
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.59 $15.59
$20.82 $20.82
-25.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.2 $53.2
$100 $100
-47.00%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.84 $10.84
$11.97 $11.97
-9.44%
Cappuccino
$2.46 $2.46
$5.56 $5.56
-55.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99 $1.99
$3.11 $3.11
-36.01%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97 $1.97
$2.42 $2.42
-18.60%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.09 $6.09
$6.86 $6.86
-11.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.89 $4.89
$8.45 $8.45
-42.13%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Bloomington, IL
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.84 $0.84
$1.04 $1.04
-19.23%
White Bread (500g)
$3.05 $3.05
$4.15 $4.15
-26.51%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.35 $4.35
$5.52 $5.52
-21.20%
Eggs
$3.44 $3.44
$4.65 $4.65
-26.02%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.4 $9.4
$14.33 $14.33
-34.40%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.74 $6.74
$14.88 $14.88
-54.70%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.9 $12.9
$19.34 $19.34
-33.30%
Apples (1kg)
$4.35 $4.35
$5.17 $5.17
-15.86%
Banana (1kg)
$1.35 $1.35
$1.71 $1.71
-21.05%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.34 $5.34
$4.41 $4.41
21.09%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.09 $3.09
$4.51 $4.51
-31.49%
Potato (1kg)
$2.15 $2.15
$2.53 $2.53
-15.02%
Onion (1kg)
$2.18 $2.18
$2.74 $2.74
-20.44%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.84 $1.84
$2.43 $2.43
-24.28%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.15 $2.15
$2.7 $2.7
-20.37%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.34 $9.34
$15.19 $15.19
-38.51%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.04 $15.04
$16.42 $16.42
-8.40%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72 $1.72
$2.35 $2.35
-26.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22 $2.22
$3.7 $3.7
-40.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Bloomington, IL
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.23 $1.23
$2.53 $2.53
-51.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.6 $40.6
$74.1 $74.1
-45.23%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.98 $1.98
$3.34 $3.34
-40.72%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.21 $2.21
$1.42 $1.42
55.63%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$33.32 $33.32
$25.42 $25.42
31.08%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.89 $0.89
$1.08 $1.08
-17.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.2K $33.2K
$32.4K $32.4K
2.35%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.1K $25.1K
$26.2K $26.2K
-4.09%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bloomington, IL
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$171 $171
$188 $188
-9.30%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$64 $64
$63.7 $63.7
0.52%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$73.1 $73.1
$65.2 $65.2
12.16%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Bloomington, IL
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.9 $60.9
$76.7 $76.7
-20.69%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.56 $8.56
$14.93 $14.93
-42.67%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bloomington, IL
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,760 $1,760
$2,063 $2,063
-14.65%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$27K $27K
$39.2K $39.2K
-31.14%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Bloomington, IL
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$48.05 $48.05
$64.3 $64.3
-25.28%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.27 $41.27
$52.4 $52.4
-21.23%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$83.4 $83.4
$95.2 $95.2
-12.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$130 $130
$145 $145
-9.95%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bloomington, IL
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,079 $1,079
$2,378 $2,378
-54.63%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,380 $1,380
$1,584 $1,584
-12.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,145 $2,145
$4,763 $4,763
-54.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,011 $2,011
$2,815 $2,815
-28.55%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,344 $1,344
$3,588 $3,588
-62.53%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,312 $1,312
$2,490 $2,490
-47.30%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Bloomington, IL
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,729 $4,729
$5,275 $5,275
-10.36%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.53
6.6
-1.06%

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

Last update for Bloomington, IL: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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