Bloomington, IL vs Elgin, IL

There is a significant gap in the cost of living between these two cities. Bloomington is 16.7% cheaper than Elgin. With a cost index of 79 vs 95, the difference would have a meaningful impact on a household's monthly budget. Someone relocating from Bloomington to Elgin should plan for substantially higher expenses across most categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Bloomington is $1,004/month compared to $1,260/month in Elgin — a 20% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Bloomington is more affordable at $198,800 median vs $252,400.

Median household income in Bloomington is $75,449 compared to $88,316 in Elgin (-14.6%). The higher salaries in Elgin partially offset the cost difference, but don't fully close the gap. Looking at affordability, residents of Bloomington spend roughly 16% of their income on rent, less than the 17.1% in Elgin.