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

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 28.7% more expensive than Bloomington, IN without rent, and 30.1% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 42.7% more expensive than Bloomington, IN without rent, and 57.9% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Bloomington, IN
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$15.22 $15.22
36.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$58.9 $58.9
70.50%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$7.83 $7.83
52.87%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$4.43 $4.43
25.51%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.06 $2.06
50.97%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$1.4 $1.4
72.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$5.13 $5.13
33.72%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$5.47 $5.47
54.48%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Bloomington, IN
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$0.76 $0.76
36.84%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$2.36 $2.36
75.85%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$3.94 $3.94
40.10%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$3.35 $3.35
38.81%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$10.19 $10.19
40.63%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$9.47 $9.47
57.13%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$15.21 $15.21
27.15%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$4.44 $4.44
16.44%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.26 $1.26
35.71%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$2.23 $2.23
97.76%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$3.89 $3.89
15.94%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$2 $2
26.50%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$2.95 $2.95
-7.12%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$1.79 $1.79
35.75%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$1.45 $1.45
86.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$8.01 $8.01
89.64%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$11.31 $11.31
45.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.89 $1.89
24.34%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$1.81 $1.81
104.42%
🚌 Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Bloomington, IN
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$0.98 $0.98
158.16%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
$30.16 $30.16
145.79%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$3.66 $3.66
-8.74%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.03 $1.03
37.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$17.78 $17.78
42.97%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.8 $0.8
35.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$29.9K $29.9K
8.43%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$25.5K $25.5K
2.73%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Bloomington, IN
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$118 $118
59.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$57.4 $57.4
11.07%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$56.8 $56.8
14.81%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Bloomington, IN
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$40.04 $40.04
91.61%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
$9.93 $9.93
31.22%
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$12.1 $12.1
23.39%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Bloomington, IN
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,584 $1,584
30.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$17.3K $17.3K
126.88%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Bloomington, IN
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$39.67 $39.67
62.11%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$40.73 $40.73
28.63%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$89.9 $89.9
5.92%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$101 $101
42.75%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Bloomington, IN
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,597 $1,597
48.88%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,345 $1,345
17.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$2,194 $2,194
117.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$1,730 $1,730
62.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$2,130 $2,130
68.48%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,085 $2,085
19.42%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Bloomington, IN
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$3,638 $3,638
44.99%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.54
0.92%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Bloomington, IN: October 28, 2025

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