Bloomington, IL vs Waukegan, IL

Bloomington is moderately more affordable than Waukegan, with a 7.8% lower cost of living index. Bloomington scores 79 compared to 86 for Waukegan, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Waukegan can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Bloomington is $1,004/month compared to $1,163/month in Waukegan — a 14% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Bloomington has cheaper rent, Waukegan actually has lower median home values ($177,600 vs $198,800).

Median household income in Bloomington is $75,449 compared to $70,578 in Waukegan (+6.9%). Bloomington offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Bloomington spend roughly 16% of their income on rent, less than the 19.8% in Waukegan.