Aurora, IL vs Bloomington, IL

The cost of living difference between Aurora, IL and Bloomington, IL is dramatic. Bloomington is 31.4% cheaper than Aurora, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Aurora has a cost index of 104 while Bloomington sits at 79, making this one of the more striking comparisons on our site. Relocating between these cities would require a serious reassessment of budget and lifestyle expectations.

On the housing front, median rent in Aurora is $1,535/month compared to $1,004/month in Bloomington — a 53% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Bloomington is more affordable at $198,800 median vs $260,400.

Median household income in Aurora is $90,109 compared to $75,449 in Bloomington (+19.4%). The higher salaries in Aurora partially offset the cost difference, but don't fully close the gap. Looking at affordability, residents of Aurora spend roughly 20.4% of their income on rent, more than the 16% in Bloomington.