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

🙂 Solo nomad: Bloomington, IN is 22.3% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 23.1% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Bloomington, IN is 29.9% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 36.7% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bloomington, IN
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.22 $15.22
$20.82 $20.82
-26.90%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.9 $58.9
$100 $100
-41.35%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.83 $7.83
$11.97 $11.97
-34.59%
Cappuccino
$4.43 $4.43
$5.56 $5.56
-20.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06 $2.06
$3.11 $3.11
-33.76%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.4 $1.4
$2.42 $2.42
-42.15%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.13 $5.13
$6.86 $6.86
-25.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.47 $5.47
$8.45 $8.45
-35.27%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bloomington, IN
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.76 $0.76
$1.04 $1.04
-26.92%
White Bread (500g)
$2.36 $2.36
$4.15 $4.15
-43.13%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.94 $3.94
$5.52 $5.52
-28.62%
Eggs
$3.35 $3.35
$4.65 $4.65
-27.96%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.19 $10.19
$14.33 $14.33
-28.89%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.47 $9.47
$14.88 $14.88
-36.36%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.21 $15.21
$19.34 $19.34
-21.35%
Apples (1kg)
$4.44 $4.44
$5.17 $5.17
-14.12%
Banana (1kg)
$1.26 $1.26
$1.71 $1.71
-26.32%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.23 $2.23
$4.41 $4.41
-49.43%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.89 $3.89
$4.51 $4.51
-13.75%
Potato (1kg)
$2 $2
$2.53 $2.53
-20.95%
Onion (1kg)
$2.95 $2.95
$2.74 $2.74
7.66%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.79 $1.79
$2.43 $2.43
-26.34%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.45 $1.45
$2.7 $2.7
-46.30%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.01 $8.01
$15.19 $15.19
-47.27%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.31 $11.31
$16.42 $16.42
-31.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.89 $1.89
$2.35 $2.35
-19.57%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81 $1.81
$3.7 $3.7
-51.08%
🚌 Getting Around
Bloomington, IN
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.98 $0.98
$2.53 $2.53
-61.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$30.16 $30.16
$74.1 $74.1
-59.31%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.66 $3.66
$3.34 $3.34
9.58%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.03 $1.03
$1.42 $1.42
-27.46%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$17.78 $17.78
$25.42 $25.42
-30.06%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.8 $0.8
$1.08 $1.08
-25.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.9K $29.9K
$32.4K $32.4K
-7.78%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.5K $25.5K
$26.2K $26.2K
-2.66%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bloomington, IN
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$118 $118
$188 $188
-37.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$57.4 $57.4
$63.7 $63.7
-9.97%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$56.8 $56.8
$65.2 $65.2
-12.90%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bloomington, IN
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.04 $40.04
$76.7 $76.7
-47.81%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.93 $9.93
$13.03 $13.03
-23.79%
Cinema Ticket
$12.1 $12.1
$14.93 $14.93
-18.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bloomington, IN
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$2,063 $2,063
-23.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.3K $17.3K
$39.2K $39.2K
-55.92%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bloomington, IN
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$39.67 $39.67
$64.3 $64.3
-38.31%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.73 $40.73
$52.4 $52.4
-22.26%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$89.9 $89.9
$95.2 $95.2
-5.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$101 $101
$145 $145
-29.95%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bloomington, IN
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,597 $1,597
$2,378 $2,378
-32.83%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,345 $1,345
$1,584 $1,584
-15.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,194 $2,194
$4,763 $4,763
-53.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,730 $1,730
$2,815 $2,815
-38.56%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,130 $2,130
$3,588 $3,588
-40.65%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,085 $2,085
$2,490 $2,490
-16.26%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bloomington, IN
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,638 $3,638
$5,275 $5,275
-31.03%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.54
6.6
-0.91%

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

Last update for Bloomington, IN: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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