Bloomington, IL vs Pekin, IL

There is a significant gap in the cost of living between these two cities. Pekin is 21.9% cheaper than Bloomington. With a cost index of 65 vs 79, the difference would have a meaningful impact on a household's monthly budget. Someone relocating from Pekin to Bloomington should plan for substantially higher expenses across most categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Bloomington is $1,004/month compared to $792/month in Pekin — a 27% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Pekin is more affordable at $118,200 median vs $198,800.

Median household income in Bloomington is $75,449 compared to $58,355 in Pekin (+29.3%). 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 16.3% in Pekin.