What is the cost of living in Bloomington, IN?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Bloomington has an overall cost of living index of 103, which is 1.0x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Indiana, Bloomington has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than Indiana's index of 90.
The standard of living in Bloomington ranks as #116 most affordable out of the 129 places we measured in Indiana. By definition, that implies Bloomington ranks as the #13 most expensive place in the Hoosier State.
For more reading on life in Bloomington, check out:
Bloomington Cost Of Living Vs. Indiana
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Bloomington. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Bloomington is 97.
The Groceries index in Bloomington is 96.
The Health index in Bloomington is 115.
The Housing index in Bloomington is 97.
The Transportation index in Bloomington is 98.
The Utilities index in Bloomington is 98.
| Living Expense | Bloomington | Indiana | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 103 | 90 | 100 |
| Services | 97 | 97 | 100 |
| Groceries | 96 | 95 | 100 |
| Health | 115 | 72 | 100 |
| Housing | 97 | 98 | 100 |
| Transportation | 98 | 94 | 100 |
| Utilities | 98 | 96 | 100 |
Bloomington Cost Of Living Compared To Indiana Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Indiana, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in Bloomington Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Bloomington, IN Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in Indiana, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Bloomington is $313,959.
The Median Rent in Bloomington is $1,200.
The Median Income in Bloomington is $50,465.
The Home Value To Income in Bloomington is 6.2x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Bloomington is 0.29x.
| Statistic | Bloomington | Indiana | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $313,959 | $254,121 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,200 | $1,062 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $50,465 | $71,957 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 6.2x | 3.5x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.29x | 0.18x | 0.21x |
Bloomington, IN Costs By Category
Detailed Bloomington Services costs vs. Indiana
| Item | Bloomington | Indiana |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.36 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $11.48 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $16.61 | $18 |
| Haircut | $26.42 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $47.57 | $45.56 |
Detailed Bloomington Groceries costs vs. Indiana
| Item | Bloomington | Indiana |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.88 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.74 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.78 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.01 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $12.45 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.53 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.55 | $3.7 |
Detailed Bloomington Health costs vs. Indiana
| Item | Bloomington | Indiana |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $173.41 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $108.22 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $104.94 | $113.29 |
Detailed Bloomington Transportation costs vs. Indiana
| Item | Bloomington | Indiana |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.56 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $47.16 | $59.92 |
Detailed Bloomington Utilities costs vs. Indiana
| Item | Bloomington | Indiana |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $206.98 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $190.02 | $192.25 |
Bloomington SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Bloomington
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Bloomington. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Greenwood, IN has a cost of living index of 96, 0.9x Bloomington.
Columbus, IN has a cost of living index of 96, 0.9x Bloomington.
Elizabethtown, KY has a cost of living index of 93, 0.9x Bloomington.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Bloomington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greenwood, IN | 66,029 | 96 | 0.9x |
| Columbus, IN | 51,824 | 96 | 0.9x |
| Elizabethtown, KY | 32,576 | 93 | 0.9x |
| Brownsburg, IN | 31,215 | 102 | 1.0x |
| Washington, IN | 12,367 | 87 | 0.8x |
| Martinsville, IN | 11,933 | 88 | 0.9x |
| Danville, IN | 11,714 | 95 | 0.9x |
| Bargersville, IN | 10,752 | 107 | 1.0x |
| Mooresville, IN | 9,751 | 93 | 0.9x |
| Ellettsville, IN | 6,698 | 93 | 0.9x |
