Cost of Living in Bloomington, IN
Bloomington, IN — prices, rents and what jobs really pay here after taxes.
Salary comparison calculator
What would you need to earn in Bloomington, IN to keep the same lifestyle — after taxes — as in another city?
Prices in Bloomington, IN vs. the U.S. average
| Category | Index (U.S. = 100) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 95.1 | −4.9% |
| Housing | 85.6 | −14.4% |
| Goods | 94.3 | −5.7% |
| Utilities | 86.5 | −13.5% |
| Other services | 99.1 | −0.9% |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Rent in Bloomington, IN
| Unit | Monthly rent | Income needed (30% rule) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $940 | $37,600/yr |
| 1 bedroom | $1,036 | $41,440/yr |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,176 | $47,040/yr |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,517 | $60,680/yr |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,853 | $74,120/yr |
HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026, population-weighted across the metro's counties.
Take-home pay in Bloomington, IN
- Federal income tax$3,539
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,955
- Medicare (1.45%)$691
- Indiana income tax$1,376
- Take-home pay$39,098
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 2.95% state
Highest-paying jobs in Bloomington, IN
*In U.S.-average dollars after adjusting for local prices.
Frequently asked questions
Is Bloomington, IN expensive to live in?
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, overall prices in the Bloomington, IN metro area are 95.1% of the U.S. average, with housing at 85.6%. It is the #167 most expensive of 387 metro areas we track.
What salary do you need to live in Bloomington, IN?
To match the buying power of a $60,000 salary in an average-priced U.S. city you would need about $57,050 in Bloomington, IN (before tax differences). The median wage across all jobs here is $47,660.
How much is rent in Bloomington, IN?
HUD’s FY2026 fair market rents for Bloomington, IN are $940 for a studio, $1,036 for one bedroom, $1,176 for two bedrooms and $1,517 for three bedrooms, including utilities.
All salaries in Bloomington, IN
Management Occupations
- General and Operations Manager — $101,310
Business and Financial Operations Occupations
- Accountant and Auditor — $76,640
Computer and Mathematical Occupations
- Computer User Support Specialist — $55,940
Architecture and Engineering Occupations
- Industrial Engineer — $97,770
Community and Social Service Occupations
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations
- Business Teachers, Postsecondary — $108,060
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education — $58,410
- Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary — $31,600
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
- Registered Nurse — $80,370
Healthcare Support Occupations
- Medical Assistant — $43,900
- Nursing Assistant — $36,820
- Home Health and Personal Care Aide — $31,750
Protective Service Occupations
- Security Guard — $35,510
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $45,250
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $37,230
- Cooks, Restaurant — $34,910
- Waiter and Waitress — $28,540
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $28,230
- Bartender — $22,370
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations
- Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners — $39,680
- Landscaping and Groundskeeping Worker — $38,290
Sales and Related Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Retail Sales Workers — $47,150
- Retail Salesperson — $30,890
- Cashier — $29,120
Office and Administrative Support Occupations
- Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks — $46,800
- Office Clerks, General — $43,570
- Medical Secretary and Administrative Assistant — $41,630
- Executive Secretary and Executive Administrative Assistant — $40,770
- Customer Service Representative — $39,660
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations
- Maintenance and Repair Workers, General — $47,200
Production Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Production and Operating Workers — $77,200
- Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers — $60,360
- Machinist — $47,850
- Packaging and Filling Machine Operator and Tender — $42,790
- Miscellaneous Assembler and Fabricator — $37,900
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $58,700
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $38,130
- Stocker and Order Filler — $34,850