Bloomington, IL vs Edwardsville, IL

There is a significant gap in the cost of living between these two cities. Bloomington is 16% cheaper than Edwardsville. With a cost index of 79 vs 94, the difference would have a meaningful impact on a household's monthly budget. Someone relocating from Bloomington to Edwardsville should plan for substantially higher expenses across most categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Bloomington is $1,004/month compared to $1,231/month in Edwardsville — a 18% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Bloomington is more affordable at $198,800 median vs $286,700.

Median household income in Bloomington is $75,449 compared to $92,671 in Edwardsville (-18.6%). While Edwardsville 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, more than the 15.9% in Edwardsville.