Bloomington, IL vs Oak Park, IL

The cost of living difference between Bloomington, IL and Oak Park, IL is dramatic. Bloomington is 32.7% cheaper than Oak Park, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Bloomington has a cost index of 79 while Oak Park sits at 117, 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 $1,456/month in Oak Park — a 31% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Bloomington is more affordable at $198,800 median vs $456,300.

Median household income in Bloomington is $75,449 compared to $108,026 in Oak Park (-30.2%). The higher salaries in Oak Park 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 16.2% in Oak Park.