Bloomington, IL vs Janesville, WI: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, living costs in Janesville, WI and Bloomington, IL are within 1% of each other (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Bloomington works out to about $75,100 in Janesville, before taxes.
- Housing is 6.5% higher in Janesville, goods 0.2% higher and other services 0.2% lower, which roughly cancel out.
- Typical asking rent is $1,292 a month in Janesville and $1,292 in Bloomington, nearly the same (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $297,000 in Janesville and $261,000 in Bloomington.
- The gap is about where it was in 2019 (1.0%).
derived Calculated from BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) and Zillow data. Based on an average household's spending; taxes not included. How we calculate.
Category by category
Both cities against the US average (100). The gap in each row is what matters for a move.
Overall prices are about the same in Bloomington and Janesville
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Bloomington, IL
- Janesville, WI
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Bloomington, IL | Janesville, WI | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 93.5 | 93.7 |
| Goods | 93.6 | 93.8 |
| Housing (rents) | 74.7 | 79.6 |
| Utilities | 89.6 | 90.4 |
| Other services | 99.6 | 99.4 |
| Category | Bloomington | Janesville | Janesville vs Bloomington |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 93.5 | 93.7 | +0.2% |
| Goods | 93.6 | 93.8 | +0.2% |
| Housing (rents) | 74.7 | 79.6 | +6.5% |
| Utilities | 89.6 | 90.4 | +0.9% |
| Other services | 99.6 | 99.4 | −0.2% |
| Typical asking rent | $1,292 | $1,292 | 0.0% |
| Typical home value | $261,000 | $297,000 | +13.9% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Bloomington | $75,000 | $75,100 | +0.2% |
Index values: BEA, 2024, US = 100. Rent and home values: Data Provided by Zillow Group, September 2026.
How the gap has changed since 2008
The price gap between Bloomington and Janesville has narrowed since 2008: 2.4 points then, 0.2 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Bloomington, IL
- Janesville, WI
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Bloomington, IL | Janesville, WI | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 96.9 | 94.5 |
| 2009 | 95.8 | 94.7 |
| 2010 | 97.3 | 96.2 |
| 2011 | 95.4 | 94.7 |
| 2012 | 96.4 | 95.0 |
| 2013 | 95.3 | 94.4 |
| 2014 | 95.6 | 95.4 |
| 2015 | 94.6 | 92.8 |
| 2016 | 93.8 | 92.8 |
| 2017 | 92.9 | 92.5 |
| 2018 | 94.4 | 94.0 |
| 2019 | 95.1 | 94.1 |
| 2020 | 92.7 | 91.6 |
| 2021 | 92.9 | 93.0 |
| 2022 | 92.5 | 91.8 |
| 2023 | 92.1 | 91.5 |
| 2024 | 93.5 | 93.7 |
Goods
- Bloomington, IL
- Janesville, WI
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Bloomington, IL | Janesville, WI | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 98.8 | 99.0 |
| 2009 | 97.5 | 97.9 |
| 2010 | 96.4 | 96.7 |
| 2011 | 95.8 | 95.9 |
| 2012 | 96.9 | 97.1 |
| 2013 | 96.7 | 97.0 |
| 2014 | 98.5 | 98.7 |
| 2015 | 98.0 | 98.4 |
| 2016 | 97.3 | 97.6 |
| 2017 | 95.4 | 95.5 |
| 2018 | 97.6 | 97.8 |
| 2019 | 96.5 | 96.4 |
| 2020 | 94.1 | 94.2 |
| 2021 | 94.7 | 94.7 |
| 2022 | 90.8 | 92.0 |
| 2023 | 93.1 | 93.8 |
| 2024 | 93.6 | 93.8 |
Housing (rents)
- Bloomington, IL
- Janesville, WI
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Bloomington, IL | Janesville, WI | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 83.7 | 71.7 |
| 2009 | 80.3 | 76.2 |
| 2010 | 94.5 | 86.4 |
| 2011 | 89.9 | 85.6 |
| 2012 | 93.9 | 84.8 |
| 2013 | 84.6 | 76.7 |
| 2014 | 86.6 | 85.8 |
| 2015 | 86.7 | 75.3 |
| 2016 | 80.4 | 75.5 |
| 2017 | 81.4 | 79.4 |
| 2018 | 81.5 | 80.1 |
| 2019 | 82.1 | 78.4 |
| 2020 | 75.5 | 69.9 |
| 2021 | 74.0 | 76.5 |
| 2022 | 78.1 | 77.0 |
| 2023 | 73.6 | 70.7 |
| 2024 | 74.7 | 79.6 |
Utilities
- Bloomington, IL
- Janesville, WI
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Bloomington, IL | Janesville, WI | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 98.2 | 101.6 |
| 2009 | 95.3 | 105.1 |
| 2010 | 94.4 | 101.7 |
| 2011 | 95.4 | 103.1 |
| 2012 | 91.3 | 101.4 |
| 2013 | 87.0 | 100.0 |
| 2014 | 86.1 | 95.7 |
| 2015 | 84.1 | 91.9 |
| 2016 | 82.5 | 88.4 |
| 2017 | 89.6 | 94.8 |
| 2018 | 93.2 | 98.9 |
| 2019 | 89.1 | 93.2 |
| 2020 | 90.1 | 93.7 |
| 2021 | 92.2 | 95.4 |
| 2022 | 93.6 | 90.9 |
| 2023 | 86.4 | 90.5 |
| 2024 | 89.6 | 90.4 |
Other services
- Bloomington, IL
- Janesville, WI
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Bloomington, IL | Janesville, WI | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 99.8 | 99.8 |
| 2009 | 99.5 | 99.4 |
| 2010 | 98.9 | 98.8 |
| 2011 | 96.6 | 96.6 |
| 2012 | 97.0 | 96.8 |
| 2013 | 97.7 | 98.1 |
| 2014 | 96.9 | 96.4 |
| 2015 | 95.2 | 94.9 |
| 2016 | 96.2 | 96.0 |
| 2017 | 94.9 | 95.1 |
| 2018 | 96.5 | 95.6 |
| 2019 | 98.5 | 98.3 |
| 2020 | 97.8 | 97.7 |
| 2021 | 98.0 | 97.9 |
| 2022 | 98.2 | 97.6 |
| 2023 | 98.1 | 97.7 |
| 2024 | 99.6 | 99.4 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $1,292 in Janesville vs $1,292 in Bloomington
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Bloomington, IL
- Janesville, WI
- United States
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (typical asking rent, all homes, smoothed), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Bloomington, IL | Janesville, WI | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | – | – | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | – | – | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | – | – | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | – | – | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | – | – | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | – | – | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | $717 | – | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | $700 | – | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | $722 | – | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | $736 | – | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | $723 | – | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | $723 | – | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | $726 | – | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | $741 | – | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | $739 | – | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | $743 | – | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | $736 | – | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | $752 | – | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | $797 | – | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | $759 | – | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | $802 | – | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | $794 | – | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | $814 | – | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $793 | – | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $817 | – | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $866 | – | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $904 | – | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $928 | – | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $970 | $969 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $1,019 | $1,000 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $1,045 | $1,001 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $1,060 | $998 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $1,066 | $1,023 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $1,054 | $1,063 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $1,115 | $1,075 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $1,136 | $1,073 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $1,157 | $1,095 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $1,173 | $1,101 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $1,194 | $1,153 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $1,202 | $1,137 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $1,203 | $1,169 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $1,227 | $1,200 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $1,238 | $1,213 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $1,233 | $1,229 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $1,243 | $1,257 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $1,282 | $1,270 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $1,292 | $1,292 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $297,000 in Janesville vs $261,000 in Bloomington
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Bloomington, IL
- Janesville, WI
- United States
Source: Zillow Home Value Index (typical home value, middle tier, smoothed, seasonally adjusted), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Bloomington, IL | Janesville, WI | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $169K | $124K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $170K | $126K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $171K | $127K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $173K | $129K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $174K | $132K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $173K | $134K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $172K | $136K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $172K | $139K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $172K | $142K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $172K | $146K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $171K | $149K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $172K | $151K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $172K | $154K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $172K | $157K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $172K | $161K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $172K | $163K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $171K | $167K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $171K | $170K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $171K | $170K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $172K | $173K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $173K | $177K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $176K | $179K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $177K | $183K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $181K | $191K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $184K | $198K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $188K | $207K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $192K | $213K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $195K | $216K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $203K | $222K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $214K | $230K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $219K | $230K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $220K | $231K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $218K | $237K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $222K | $243K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $228K | $247K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $230K | $249K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $232K | $254K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $238K | $261K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $240K | $263K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $245K | $267K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $249K | $273K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $252K | $276K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $256K | $279K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $256K | $285K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $256K | $292K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $257K | $294K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $261K | $297K | $366K |
More about each city
What this comparison leaves out
- Taxes. State and local income, sales and property taxes can change the result a lot, especially between states.
- Neighborhoods. These are metro-wide averages; a city center and its outer suburbs can differ by more than two metros do.
- Your own spending mix. The default uses an average household. Use the housing slider above if rent is a bigger share of your budget.
- Timing. BEA price levels are for 2024; Zillow figures are monthly and newer.