Bloomington, IL vs Rock Island, IL

There is a significant gap in the cost of living between these two cities. Rock Island is 20.1% cheaper than Bloomington. With a cost index of 66 vs 79, the difference would have a meaningful impact on a household's monthly budget. Someone relocating from Rock Island 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 $819/month in Rock Island — a 23% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Rock Island is more affordable at $118,400 median vs $198,800.

Median household income in Bloomington is $75,449 compared to $57,292 in Rock Island (+31.7%). 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 17.2% in Rock Island.