Bloomington, IL vs Urbana, IL

Bloomington, IL and Urbana, IL have a very similar cost of living, with only a 4.1% difference in their overall index. Bloomington scores 79 while Urbana scores 76 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 $951/month in Urbana — a 6% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Urbana is more affordable at $186,300 median vs $198,800.

Median household income in Bloomington is $75,449 compared to $45,854 in Urbana (+64.5%). 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 24.9% in Urbana.