Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Bloomington, IN Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Bloomington, IN

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $4,458 per month in New York, NY vs $2,323 in Bloomington, IN, rent included.

A couple spends around $7,020 per month in New York, NY vs $3,182 in Bloomington, IN, rent included.

A family of three spends $9,582 per month in New York, NY vs $4,041 in Bloomington, IN, rent included.

New York, NY costs about 92% more than Bloomington, IN, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both New York, NY and Bloomington, IN sit above the global median – New York, NY by 232%, Bloomington, IN by 73%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$29.87 $29.87

$14.92 $14.92

100.20%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$148 $148

$60.4 $60.4

144.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.37 $12.37

$7.79 $7.79

58.79%

Cappuccino

$6.07 $6.07

$4.26 $4.26

42.49%

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

$3.21 $3.21

$2.13 $2.13

50.70%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.65 $2.65

$1.40 $1.40

89.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.88 $7.88

$5.07 $5.07

55.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$12.19 $12.19

$5.36 $5.36

127.43%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.55 $1.55

$0.74 $0.74

109.46%

White Bread (500g)

$5.14 $5.14

$2.30 $2.30

123.48%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.16 $8.16

$3.78 $3.78

115.87%

Eggs

$6.96 $6.96

$3.33 $3.33

109.01%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.53 $17.53

$10.25 $10.25

71.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.22 $16.22

$9.60 $9.60

68.96%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.40 $20.40

$15.23 $15.23

33.95%

Apples (1kg)

$7.60 $7.60

$4.32 $4.32

75.93%

Banana (1kg)

$2.45 $2.45

$1.24 $1.24

97.58%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.64 $5.64

$2.24 $2.24

151.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.47 $6.47

$3.93 $3.93

64.63%

Potato (1kg)

$3.72 $3.72

$2.01 $2.01

85.07%

Onion (1kg)

$3.99 $3.99

$3.05 $3.05

30.82%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.15 $3.15

$1.75 $1.75

80.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.45 $2.45

$1.47 $1.47

66.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$18.92 $18.92

$7.97 $7.97

137.39%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.27 $20.27

$10.98 $10.98

84.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.88 $2.88

$1.90 $1.90

51.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.88 $3.88

$1.78 $1.78

117.98%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.89 $2.89

$1.02 $1.02

183.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$132 $132

$30.24 $30.24

337.63%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.10 $5.10

$3.70 $3.70

37.84%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.19 $2.19

$1.03 $1.03

112.62%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.50 $42.50

$17.88 $17.88

137.70%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 $0.95

$0.80 $0.80

18.75%

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

$35.5K $35.5K

$29.3K $29.3K

21.39%

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

$28.3K $28.3K

$25.6K $25.6K

10.41%

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

$181 $181

$122 $122

47.63%

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

$59.8 $59.8

$55.9 $55.9

6.96%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.8 $63.8

$55.9 $55.9

14.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$141 $141

$40.35 $40.35

249.19%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$64.9 $64.9

$10.10 $10.10

542.18%

Cinema Ticket

$19.92 $19.92

$12.08 $12.08

64.90%

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

$3,208 $3,208

$1,585 $1,585

102.38%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$57.8K $57.8K

$17.7K $17.7K

226.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.3 $68.3

$40.10 $40.10

70.35%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.77 $48.77

$39.87 $39.87

22.32%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$113 $113

$89.2 $89.2

26.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$172 $172

$100 $100

72.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,213 $4,213

$1,606 $1,606

162.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,706 $2,706

$1,324 $1,324

104.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$8,515 $8,515

$2,227 $2,227

282.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,231 $5,231

$1,738 $1,738

200.96%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$17.9K $17.9K

$2,116 $2,116

746.42%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,389 $6,389

$2,107 $2,107

203.18%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,445 $5,445

$3,573 $3,573

52.40%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.54

-1.53%

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

Last update for New York, NY: June 7, 2026

Last update for Bloomington, IN: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $4,213 in New York, NY versus $1,606 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 52% higher in New York, NY, 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 $148 in New York, NY versus $60.0 in Bloomington, IN. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $554 vs $313 – 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

New York, NY vs Bloomington, IN: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – New York, NY is pricier by about 92%, 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 $6,687 per month in New York, NY and $3,484 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 338% less in Bloomington, IN. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $3,208 per month in New York, NY and $1,585 in Bloomington, IN. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $4,458 in New York, NY and $2,323 in Bloomington, IN. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

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, New York, NY makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.