CostIndexUSA

Bloomington, IL vs Columbus, GA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

IL
Bloomington
93.5
overall index
$1,275/mo rent
More AffordableGA
Columbus
89.3
overall index
$1,250/mo rent

Columbus is slightly cheaper than Bloomington — 4.5% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Bloomington, you would need $76,400 in Columbus. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing18.1%
Bloomington
74.7
Columbus
61.2
🛒 Groceries+2.9%
Bloomington
93.6
Columbus
96.3
🚗 Transportation1.1%
Bloomington
104.6
Columbus
103.5
🏥 Healthcare1.1%
Bloomington
94.6
Columbus
93.6
Utilities≈ Equal
Bloomington
89.6
Columbus
89.7

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Bloomington to see what you'd need to earn in Columbus to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Columbus, GA
$76,400
$3,600 less needed in Columbus

Formula: salary × (89.3 ÷ 93.5) = salary × 0.9551. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Bloomington, IL

Median Home Price
$246,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,275
Housing Index
74.7
Price-to-Rent Ratio
16.1×

Columbus, GA

Median Home Price
$200,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,250
Housing Index
61.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
13.3×

Bloomington has 18.1% lower housing costs compared to Columbus.

Income & Job Market

Bloomington, IL

Median Household Income
$77,200
Per Capita Income
$44,000
Unemployment Rate
2.6%
Population
78,902
Top Industries
FinanceInsuranceEducationHealthcareManufacturing

Columbus, GA

Median Household Income
$54,700
Per Capita Income
$31,200
Unemployment Rate
5.3%
Population
206,922
Top Industries
MilitaryHealthcareManufacturingGovernmentRetail

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Bloomington, IL
5.0×income-to-rent ratio

80% of income left after rent (median)

Columbus, GA
3.6×income-to-rent ratio

73% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.