Bloomington, IL vs Carol Stream, IL

There is a significant gap in the cost of living between these two cities. Bloomington is 25.2% cheaper than Carol Stream. With a cost index of 79 vs 106, the difference would have a meaningful impact on a household's monthly budget. Someone relocating from Bloomington to Carol Stream should plan for substantially higher expenses across most categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Bloomington is $1,004/month compared to $1,465/month in Carol Stream — a 32% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Bloomington is more affordable at $198,800 median vs $308,700.

Median household income in Bloomington is $75,449 compared to $105,395 in Carol Stream (-28.4%). While Carol Stream is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Bloomington spend roughly 16% of their income on rent, less than the 16.7% in Carol Stream.