Bloomington, IL vs Highland Park, IL

The cost of living difference between Bloomington, IL and Highland Park, IL is dramatic. Bloomington is 44.5% cheaper than Highland Park, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Bloomington has a cost index of 79 while Highland Park sits at 142, 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 Bloomington is $1,004/month compared to $1,903/month in Highland Park — a 47% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Bloomington is more affordable at $198,800 median vs $594,400.

Median household income in Bloomington is $75,449 compared to $161,875 in Highland Park (-53.4%). While Highland Park 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 14.1% in Highland Park.