| Index | Bloomington | California | National |
| Cost of living | 130 | 141 | 100 |
| Groceries | 111 | 111 | 100 |
| Health care | 116 | 116 | 100 |
| Housing | 157 | 197 | 100 |
| Transportation | 123 | 118 | 100 |
| Utilities | 118 | 119 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 124 | 120 | 100 |
| Household Items | 113 | 111 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 130 | 127 | 100 |
Are you thinking about relocating, but curious about the potential cost of living in Bloomington? Is it more expensive or more affordable than average? Based on the most recent report, the cost of living in Bloomington stands at 130, making it 30% higher than the national average. The cost of living directly affects the affordability of one's desired lifestyle. Knowing the cost of housing, transportation, groceries and other essentials in the new area allows people to gauge whether they can maintain their preferred standard of living.
If you value affordability in your search for a new place to live, Bloomington may not be the most suitable option, as it stands out as one of the priciest areas in the entire United States. Only a small fraction of regions have a cost of living that is more than 20% higher than the national average, and regrettably, Bloomington falls into this category, which may not align with your desire for an affordable place to call home.
Housing costs significantly influence the Bloomington cost of living index, typically accounting for a substantial portion of one's post-tax income. Regrettably, within this particular region, expenses related to both residential ownership and renting exceeded those observed in an average city by 56.9%. This entails elements such as housing and rental prices, mortgage interest rates and insurance costs.
Household expenses account for 8% of the cost of living index and include the products people rely on every week, from toiletries and detergent to clothing and kitchen essentials. In Bloomington, household essentials are 13.1% more expensive than the U.S. average, which can leave less room in your monthly budget.
Groceries are getting more expensive by the day and the cost of groceries makes up 13% of the overall cost of living index. In the past two years, prices have shot up by over 10%! Unfortunately, in Bloomington, it's the same story – grocery costs are 10.7% higher than what people pay across the country.
Wondering if Bloomington is affordable? It's a question that often comes up when you're thinking about a new city since affordability can really shape your decisions. The cost of living index (covered earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a part in the affordability equation. In Bloomington, for example, the median home price is 67.9% higher than what folks pay nationally, and monthly rent is 31.2% higher than the usual rates. Plus, income levels matter too, with Bloomington boasting a median household income of $93,824, which is 15.4% higher than the national average.
Taxes: Regions that impose higher taxes, including sales and income taxes, can contribute to an increased cost of living. Higher taxes for everyday necessities such as clothing, utilities and food inevitably leads to higher expenditures. Additionally, a higher income tax rate can also play a role in elevating the overall cost of living. In Bloomington, the prevailing sales tax rate starts at 7.25%, and income tax rates kick off at 1%.
Subsidies: Some areas might offer government subsidies or assistance programs that help lower cost of living for residents. These programs can include anything from Medicare, Medicaid, housing subsidies, low-income home energy assistance programs, school lunch programs, supplemental nutrition assistance programs, student loans, electric vehicle tax credits, affordable care act subsidies and crop subsidies. Areas that offer less subsidies, could see an increase in their cost of living.
Healthcare: Healthcare costs and insurance premiums can fluctuate greatly based on the city or state. Access to healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for doctor\’s visits, dentist costs, medication costs and specialized care costs can all impact the cost of living. In Bloomington, the healthcare costs are 16.1% higher than the national average.
The Bloomington cost of living data displayed above uses a U.S. average baseline of 100 to provide a practical way to compare living expenses across cities. Housing estimates incorporate U.S. Census home price and rental data, while all other values are generated using AI-assisted models based on everyday expense expectations, regional pricing trends, climate, transportation patterns, and local economic conditions. These values are designed for directional city-to-city comparisons.
| Cost of living index | |
| Groceries index | |
| Health care index | |
| Housing index | |
| Transportation index | |
| Utilities index | |
| Lifestyle index | |
| Household index | |
| Educare index |
| Median Income | Per Year | Per Month | Max Budget (28% DTI) | Max Budget (36% DTI) |
| Owners | $100,973 | $8,414 | $2,356 | $3,029 |
| Renters | $74,075 | $6,173 | $1,728 | $2,222 |
| State | General Sales Tax | With Max Surtax |
| California | 7.25% | 10.5% |
| State | Income Tax (Low) | Income Tax (High) |
| California | 1% | 13.3% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| San Bernardino, CA | 221,910 | 124 | 23.5% |
| Crestline, CA | 9,723 | 123 | 23.0% |
| Muscoy, CA | 11,809 | 126 | 26.0% |
| Colton, CA | 55,956 | 127 | 27.0% |
| Rialto, CA | 106,524 | 133 | 32.5% |
| Bloomington, CA | 22,506 | 130 | 29.9% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Alliance, OH | 22,517 | 83 | 16.6% |
| Raymore, MO | 22,494 | 105 | 4.9% |
| Pascagoula, MS | 22,492 | 88 | 12.5% |
| Port Hueneme, CA | 22,490 | 148 | 48.3% |
| Geneva, IL | 22,487 | 125 | 24.9% |
| Bloomington, CA | 22,506 | 130 | 29.9% |
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