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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,066 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,346 in Bloomington, IN, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,583 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,189 in Bloomington, IN, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,100 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,032 in Bloomington, IN, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 31% more than Bloomington, IN, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chicago, IL and Bloomington, IN sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 128%, Bloomington, IN by 74%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.53 $20.53

$15.14 $15.14

35.60%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$102 $102

$59.4 $59.4

71.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.03 $12.03

$7.81 $7.81

54.03%

Cappuccino

$5.62 $5.62

$4.29 $4.29

31.00%

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

$3.07 $3.07

$2.15 $2.15

42.79%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.35 $1.35

79.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.98 $6.98

$4.91 $4.91

42.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.10 $8.10

$5.34 $5.34

51.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.76 $0.76

42.11%

White Bread (500g)

$3.95 $3.95

$2.26 $2.26

74.78%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$3.93 $3.93

40.46%

Eggs

$4.55 $4.55

$3.31 $3.31

37.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.58 $14.58

$10.49 $10.49

38.99%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.91 $14.91

$9.53 $9.53

56.45%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.83 $18.83

$15.34 $15.34

22.75%

Apples (1kg)

$5.34 $5.34

$4.30 $4.30

24.19%

Banana (1kg)

$1.76 $1.76

$1.31 $1.31

34.35%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.39 $4.39

$2.24 $2.24

95.98%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.37 $4.37

$4.08 $4.08

7.11%

Potato (1kg)

$2.55 $2.55

$2.03 $2.03

25.62%

Onion (1kg)

$2.78 $2.78

$3.05 $3.05

-8.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.46 $2.46

$1.74 $1.74

41.38%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.66 $2.66

$1.40 $1.40

90.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.74 $14.74

$8.30 $8.30

77.59%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.17 $15.17

$11.33 $11.33

33.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.45 $2.45

$1.88 $1.88

30.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.68 $3.68

$1.81 $1.81

103.31%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.52 $2.52

$0.98 $0.98

157.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.5 $74.5

$30.18 $30.18

146.95%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.29 $3.29

$3.78 $3.78

-12.96%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.43 $1.43

$1.04 $1.04

37.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.86 $24.86

$17.74 $17.74

40.14%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.80 $0.80

36.25%

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

$31.3K $31.3K

$29.4K $29.4K

6.59%

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

$26.8K $26.8K

$25.4K $25.4K

5.45%

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

$187 $187

$121 $121

54.72%

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

$62.4 $62.4

$56.5 $56.5

10.45%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.1 $67.1

$57.2 $57.2

17.30%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.2 $75.2

$39.41 $39.41

90.74%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.17 $13.17

$10.15 $10.15

29.75%

Cinema Ticket

$15.21 $15.21

$11.84 $11.84

28.46%

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

$2,039 $2,039

$1,535 $1,535

32.85%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.3K $39.3K

$17.1K $17.1K

129.47%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.0 $64.0

$40.50 $40.50

57.93%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.6 $50.6

$40.72 $40.72

24.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.4 $95.4

$90.3 $90.3

5.69%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$144 $144

$103 $103

39.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,355 $2,355

$1,581 $1,581

48.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,613 $1,613

$1,321 $1,321

22.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,728 $4,728

$2,229 $2,229

112.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,754 $2,754

$1,740 $1,740

58.26%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,803 $3,803

$2,180 $2,180

74.42%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,580 $2,580

$2,134 $2,134

20.91%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,738 $4,738

$3,636 $3,636

30.31%

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: April 14, 2026

Last update for Bloomington, IN: April 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,355 in Chicago, IL versus $1,581 in Bloomington, IN. 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 30% higher in Chicago, IL, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $102 in Chicago, IL versus $59 in Bloomington, IN. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $447 vs $315 – making Bloomington, IN 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

Chicago, IL vs Bloomington, IN: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Chicago, IL is pricier by about 31%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,599 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,519 in Bloomington, IN. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Bloomington, IN, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 147% less in Bloomington, IN. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $2,039 per month in Chicago, IL and $1,535 in Bloomington, IN. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Bloomington, IN, where all-in costs run around $2,346, than in Chicago, IL at $3,066. In Bloomington, IN it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chicago, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Bloomington, IN – 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 Bloomington, IN. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chicago, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.