CostIndexUSA

Bloomington, IL vs Trenton, NJ Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableIL
Bloomington
93.5
overall index
$1,275/mo rent
NJ
Trenton
103.2
overall index
$2,450/mo rent

Bloomington is moderately cheaper than Trenton — 10.4% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Bloomington, you would need $88,300 in Trenton. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+80.9%
Bloomington
74.7
Trenton
135.1
🛒 Groceries+6.6%
Bloomington
93.6
Trenton
99.8
🚗 Transportation1.7%
Bloomington
104.6
Trenton
102.8
🏥 Healthcare1.7%
Bloomington
94.6
Trenton
93
Utilities+25.3%
Bloomington
89.6
Trenton
112.3

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Trenton, NJ
$88,300
$8,300 more needed in Trenton

Formula: salary × (103.2 ÷ 93.5) = salary × 1.1037. 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×

Trenton, NJ

Median Home Price
$434,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,450
Housing Index
135.1
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.8×

Trenton has 80.9% higher housing costs compared to Bloomington.

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

Trenton, NJ

Median Household Income
$96,200
Per Capita Income
$54,800
Unemployment Rate
5.9%
Population
90,871
Top Industries
GovernmentHealthcareFinanceManufacturingEducation

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)

Trenton, NJ
3.3×income-to-rent ratio

69% 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.