Bloomington, IL vs Normal, IL

Bloomington, IL and Normal, IL have a very similar cost of living, with only a 1% difference in their overall index. Bloomington scores 79 while Normal scores 78 on the cost of living index, where 100 represents the national average. The day-to-day expenses for residents in both cities are comparable, though differences emerge when looking at specific categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Bloomington is $1,004/month compared to $974/month in Normal — a 3% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Normal has cheaper rent, Bloomington actually has lower median home values ($198,800 vs $199,900).

Median household income in Bloomington is $75,449 compared to $66,350 in Normal (+13.7%). While Bloomington 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 17.6% in Normal.