Bloomington, IL vs Oak Forest, IL

There is a significant gap in the cost of living between these two cities. Bloomington is 17% cheaper than Oak Forest. 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 Oak Forest should plan for substantially higher expenses across most categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Bloomington is $1,004/month compared to $1,287/month in Oak Forest — a 22% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Bloomington is more affordable at $198,800 median vs $247,800.

Median household income in Bloomington is $75,449 compared to $87,941 in Oak Forest (-14.2%). The higher salaries in Oak Forest 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 17.6% in Oak Forest.