Uprootmap
Chicago vs Bloomington
Chicago and Bloomington
Photo: Yahala / Wikimedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
Assumed income $83,730, same in both cities. Example, until you change it.
Other cities
So you know: homicide deaths in Bloomington are under the US rate in this release, 4.1 versus 6.5 per 100,000. CDC via County Health Rankings, CDC NVSS 2017–2023 (CHR 2025 release).
Why people look at Chicago to Bloomington
In 2022-2023, 179 households filed a move from Chicago to Bloomington (about 253 people, average adjusted gross income $48,101). 288 households went the other way. Source: IRS migration.
A one-bedroom asking rent is about $1,782 in Chicago and $1,062 in Bloomington. Chicago has a state tax on wages. Bloomington has a state tax on wages. Local pay in Bloomington is 80% of the national level for the same work, against 105% in Chicago.
Bloomington averages 206 sunny days, with July highs around 85°F and January nights around 27°F. Chicago is 189 sunny days, 84°F in July, 20°F in January. Commutes average 22 minutes in Bloomington and 33 in Chicago.
These figures are projections built from available public data. Conditions change, and the numbers may not reflect current prices, taxes, or immigration rules. Check official sources before you make decisions.
Who already made this move
In 2022-2023, 179 households moved Chicago → Bloomington (about 253 people, average AGI $48,101). 288 households went the other way.
Source: IRS SOI county-to-county migration. Not a moving company; not a recommendation.
The monthly number is take-home pay minus rent and the other bills. The gap between Chicago and Bloomington changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.
What the move itself costs
About 221 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.
- Full-service mover
- $1,750–$3,300
- Container or pod
- $1,200–$2,250
- Rent a truck
- $500–$900
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Dig into Bloomington
Questions
Is Bloomington cheaper than Chicago after tax and rent?
Yes. Bloomington leaves about $771 more a month, so the cost of living is lower there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $1,782 in Chicago and $1,062 in Bloomington.
Does Bloomington have state income tax?
Bloomington is in Indiana, which taxes wage income, plus a local wage tax of 1.50%.
Did people actually move from Chicago to Bloomington?
Yes, when the IRS published that flow. The count and their average income are on this page. Leftover prices the same household in both cities.