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Cost of living in Bloomington, IN

Compared with New York. Change city

$2,101a month less for the typical home than in New York1,2

That's $25,213 a year, enough to cover 12 months of the mortgage in Bloomington. The average commute is 15 minutes shorter each way, about 2.5 hours a week back4.

Typical home $359,675 vs $742,000. 2-bedroom rent3 $1,358 vs $1,997. See the math

By Sol Lakein.Checked October 2026.How we compare costs

The courthouse at sunset, BloomingtonAaron Shafer / Unsplash
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  • College townIndiana University

Bloomington at a glance, next to New York

5

What the median home costs each month

1,2
New York metro$4,078/mo
$742,000 typical home
Bloomington$1,977/mo
$359,675 typical home

If you rent: median 2-bedroom

3
New York metro$1,997/mo
Bloomington$1,358/mo
About $639 a month less in rent
Rent by apartment size in Bloomington

Home prices next to New York

1
Typical home for sale
New York metro$742,000
Bloomington$359,675
52% less, a $382,325 difference
Price per square foot
New York metro$494
Bloomington$193
2.6 times the space for the money

Pays you to move

9
$8,500 in benefitsBloomington Remote Worker ProgramUp to $8,500 in perks across 11 benefits; no cashWho qualifies: Full-time remote employees or self-employed people with a business outside Monroe County, earning $55,000+, living outside Indiana. Must move within 12 months of acceptance.Program details, accessed 2026-10-30; site (C) 2026
$8,500 in benefitsWork Locally in BloomingtonUp to $8,500 in perks; no cashWho qualifies: For people taking a full-time job in Bloomington or Monroe County paying $55,000+ (current job $20,000+), living outside Indiana and moving within 6 months.Program details, accessed 2026-10-30; site (C) 2026

Weather

8
  • 20.6°January low
  • 85.1°July high
  • 17.5 inSnow per year

Day-to-day costs

  • Housing costs614% cheaper than averageNew York: 49% above
  • Salary that matches $150,000 in New York6$126,708
Bloomington in a paragraph

The median listed home in Bloomington is $359,675 (Realtor.com, September 2026), 14% below the US median of $419,250. With 20% down at 7.32%, principal and interest come to about $1,977 a month. The median 2-bedroom rent is $1,358 a month, utilities included (Census, 2025). Everyday prices index at 95.1, where the US average is 100 (BEA, 2024). A $150,000 salary in New York buys the same as $126,708 here.

Your New York, in Bloomington

We're matching Bloomington's parks, museums, arenas and food halls to their New York counterparts. Until then, see how it works for Raleigh.

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Is Bloomington a good place to live?

Bloomington fits families who want prices 5% below the US average and homes list 14% below the US median. Here is what you gain and what you give up.

What you gain

  • Prices 5% below the US averageEveryday prices, rent included, index at 95.1 against a US average of 100.BEA regional price parities, 2024
  • Homes list 14% below the US median$359,675 median listing against $419,250 nationally.Realtor.com via FRED, September 2026
  • Nonstop flights to New YorkFrom IND to JFK, LGA, EWR.Airport route page, August 31, 2026
  • Pays you to moveBloomington Remote Worker Program: $8,500 in benefits.Program page, accessed 2026-10-30; site (C) 2026
  • University townIndiana UniversitySlower Sundays city profile

More on Bloomington and Indiana

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Bloomington cost of living: questions people ask

What is the cost of living in Bloomington, IN?

The median listed home in Bloomington is $359,675 (Realtor.com, September 2026), 14% below the US median of $419,250. With 20% down at 7.32%, principal and interest come to about $1,977 a month. The median 2-bedroom rent is $1,358 a month, utilities included (Census, 2025). Everyday prices index at 95.1, where the US average is 100 (BEA, 2024). A $150,000 salary in New York buys the same as $126,708 here.

How much would I save moving from New York to Bloomington?

The median listed home is $359,675 in Bloomington against $742,000 in the New York metro, 52% less. On a mortgage for each median home, that is about $2,101 a month less in principal and interest (20% down, 7.32%, Freddie Mac, October 22, 2026).

How much is rent in Bloomington?

The median gross rent for a 2-bedroom in the Bloomington metro is $1,358 a month, including utilities the renter pays (Census American Community Survey, 2025). In the New York metro it is $1,997, $639 more. The US median is $1,563.

What salary in Bloomington matches $150,000 in New York?

$126,708. That is $150,000 adjusted by the BEA regional price parities for both metros (95.1 in Bloomington, 112.6 in New York, 2024).

Does Bloomington pay you to move there?

Yes. Bloomington Remote Worker Program offers $8,500 in benefits. Who qualifies: Full-time remote employees or self-employed people with a business outside Monroe County, earning $55,000+, living outside Indiana. Must move within 12 months of acceptance.. Confirm current terms with the program.

What is the weather like in Bloomington?

January lows average 20.6°F and July highs 85.1°F, with 17.5 inches of snow a year (NOAA 1991-2020 normals, Indiana University Bloomington).

Notes on the numbers
  1. 1Home prices: the typical home is the median listing price, with price per square foot, from Realtor.com via FRED, September 2026. The comparison metro uses the same series and month.
  2. 2Monthly cost: Principal and interest on the median listed home with 20% down, 30-year fixed at 7.32% (Freddie Mac 30-year fixed average, week of October 22, 2026). Excludes taxes, insurance and HOA. Rate source
  3. 3Rent: Census ACS 2025 1-year, median gross rent for 2-bedroom units (rent plus utilities). Covers all renters, including long-time tenants, not only new leases. Census table
  4. 4Commute: Census ACS 2025 1-year, table S0801, mean travel time to work (one way, workers who do not work from home), 2025. Hours back assume a 5-day round trip. Census table
  5. 5At a glance: a difference within 5% counts as about the same.
  6. 6Everyday prices, housing costs and the matching salary: BEA regional price parities, 2024, US = 100.
  7. 7Flights: airport route pages, October 2026.
  8. 8Weather: NOAA 1991-2020 normals, Indiana University Bloomington.
  9. 9Incentives: terms come from each program's page. Confirm eligibility with the program before you move.
Sources for this page