C-
9%
Overall NAT. AVG.
5%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
39%
Housing NAT. AVG.
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Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.
The cost of living index is based on a national average of 100. For example, if the cost of living is 90, then it is 10% lower than average. If the cost of living is 110, then it is 10% higher than average. The breakdown for each index is as follows: goods & services (33%), groceries (13%), health care (5%), housing (30%), transportation (9%) and utilities (10%). If the cost of living data was unavailable for this city, estimates based upon nearby cities were used.
Index Bloomington Minnesota National
Cost of living10999100
Goods & Services95100100
Groceries9798100
Health care101109100
Housing139100100
Transportation9797100
Utilities9593100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Bloomington, MN

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 109, making it 9% 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.

Everyday expenditures like food, housing, goods and services, transportation and health care in Bloomington are priced in a manner consistent with other areas. This means that residents of Bloomington can anticipate their daily expenses remaining reasonably similar to those in an average city, thereby supporting a manageable cost of living.

Housing costs are a very significant part of the Bloomington cost of living index and generally encompass a large percentage of take-home income. Unfortunately, in this area, the housing costs for both homes and rentals were 39.3% more than the average city. This includes things like home and rent prices, mortgage rates and insurance.

Is Bloomington Affordable?

Is Bloomington an affordable place to live? It's a good question and one that you might want to ask when considering any new city, as affordability can play a huge role in the decision making process. The cost of living index (which we covered above), as well as housing costs and income levels play a vital role in determining the affordability of an area. The median home price in Bloomington is 43.9% higher than the national average, while the average monthly rent prices are 28.6% higher than average. The affordability of any location can also be influenced by median income levels. Bloomington has a median household income of $78,224, which is 41.4% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Bloomington?

Healthcare: Healthcare expenditures and insurance premium rates can vary significantly, contingent upon the particular city or state. Factors such as the accessibility of healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for doctor's appointments, dental care charges, prescription medication costs, and expenses related to specialized medical care can all have an impact on the overall cost of living. In Bloomington, healthcare costs are 0.6% higher than the national average.

Urbanization: Urban areas with a wealth of amenities and employment opportunities tend to come with a higher price tag for living. Why? Well, more people want to be there, which drives up home prices and rents. On the flip side, less densely populated rural areas or places where there's not as much demand usually mean fewer attractions, things to do and slower job growth. That often results in a lower cost of living.

Subsidies: Certain regions may provide government subsidies or assistance initiatives designed to alleviate the cost of living burden on their residents. These programs encompass a wide range of support mechanisms, such as 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 farming subsidies. Areas with fewer subsidy offerings might experience an elevation in their cost of living.

Where is the Data From?

The Bloomington cost of living data you see above is sourced from the C2ER cost of living index, providing a practical and accurate means of comparing living expenses in urban areas. Updated quarterly, this index gathers data from over 300 independent researchers, covering more than 60 goods and services, in 6 different categories. These selections are made meticulously to represent a wide range of consumer expenditure categories. The weightings applied to cost differences are based on government survey data that tracks spending patterns among professional and executive households. It's important to note that while the C2ER index excludes data on sales or income tax rates, AreaVibes factors tax rates into the overall cost of living score for each region.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Bloomington is 10% higher than the Minnesota average
  • The cost of living in Bloomington is 9% higher than the national average
  • Bloomington housing is 39% higher than the national average
  • Minnesota general sales tax is 35% higher than the national average
  • Minnesota state income tax is 106% higher than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Bloomington

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Compare Bloomington, MN Cost of Living

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      Price difference in compared to
      Cost of living index
      Goods & Services index
      Groceries index
      Health care index
      Housing index
      Transportation index
      Utilities index

      Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

      Median Income Per Year Per Month Max Budget (28% DTI) Max Budget (36% DTI)
      Owners$95,868$7,989$2,237$2,876
      Renters$52,007$4,334$1,213$1,560
      A good way to judge both the affordability of the housing and the cost of living in Bloomington is by simply calculating the maximum that should be spent on housing, otherwise known as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). The plan is to avoid spending more than 28 percent of the gross income on costs that pertain to housing and no more than 36 percent on all expenses and debts. Bloomington has a median income of about $95,868 for people who own homes. Based on that number, a maximum of $2,237 should be spent on expenses related to housing. Renters have a slightly different median income, which is $52,007. Based on this average, renters should spend no more than $1,213 on all rental costs if they want to maintain a non-impoverished standard of living.

      Minnesota Sales Tax

      State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
      Minnesota 6.875% 7.875%

      Minnesota Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      Minnesota 5.35% 9.85%

      Goods & Services

      Item Bloomington National avg. Difference
      Haircut $25.86$24.266.6%
      Beauty Salon $37.00$45.5618.8%
      Toothpaste $3.62$3.702.2%
      Shampoo $1.50$1.2816.9%
      Movie $11.32$12.136.7%
      Bowling $25.68$18.0042.6%

      Groceries

      Item Bloomington National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $5.75$5.841.4%
      Fried Chicken $1.40$1.5711.2%
      Milk $4.60$4.671.5%
      Potatoes $4.76$4.933.5%
      Pizza $13.00$12.097.6%
      Beer $9.44$10.419.3%

      Health Care

      Item Bloomington National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $112.72$125.6810.3%
      Doctor $164.15$135.7820.9%
      Dentist $95.01$113.2916.1%
      Ibuprofen $10.71$10.650.6%
      Lipitor $499.35$468.606.6%

      Housing

      Item Bloomington National avg. Difference
      Home Price $265,700.00$184,700.0043.9%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $1,983.77$2,346.6915.5%
      Apartment Rent $1,220.00$949.0028.6%

      Transportation

      Item Bloomington National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.32$3.464.0%
      Tire Balancing $59.91$59.920.0%

      Utilities

      Item Bloomington National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $180.11$193.997.2%
      Phone $187.59$192.252.4%
      Although the cost of living data is updated regularly, this cost of living information is to be used as estimates only as prices can change on an ongoing basis.

      Nearby cities with low cost of living

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      South End, MN657525.2%
      St. Anthony city (Stearns County), MN1068019.7%
      Coates, MN142991.2%
      South St. Paul, MN20,1321000.3%
      Robbinsdale, MN14,3931000.3%
      Bloomington, MN85,2261099.1%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Clifton, NJ85,20112828.3%
      Hoover, AL85,38611313.3%
      Hawthorne, CA85,41016262.0%
      Whittier, CA84,82116262.3%
      Bryan, TX85,645937.0%
      Bloomington, MN85,2261099.1%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.