Kenosha, WI vs Bloomington, IL: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Bloomington, IL has a modeled overall cost index 0.9% higher than Kenosha, WI.

Kenosha, WI · modeled 2BR rent
$1,395 / month
Bloomington, IL · modeled 2BR rent
$1,345 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Kenosha, WI and Bloomington, IL using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

$
Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated extra cost: $331/month in Bloomington, IL

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $153,968 in Bloomington, IL

Regional cost estimates: Kenosha, WI uses Milwaukee, WI. Bloomington, IL uses Chicago, IL. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 0.9%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$331
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$4.0K
Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

Kenosha, WI

Population:98K
Cost Index:
88.2
100 = national average
Typical Home:$276K

Bloomington, IL

Population:79K
Cost Index:
89.0
100 = national average
Typical Home:$239K

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Kenosha, WI

The Badger State

98K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Wisconsin, this city has a population of 98K residents.

Bloomington, IL

The Prairie State

79K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Illinois, this city has a population of 79K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Kenosha, WI vs Bloomington, IL

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Housing
↑ 35.5%
Kenosha, WI
$1,864
Bloomington, IL
$2,525
Difference
$661
more
Healthcare
↓ 23.7%
Kenosha, WI
$786
Bloomington, IL
$600
Difference
$186
less
Other
↓ 7.1%
Kenosha, WI
$1,730
Bloomington, IL
$1,608
Difference
$122
less
All Utilities
↓ 5.8%
Kenosha, WI
$556
Bloomington, IL
$523
Difference
$32.47
less
Transportation
↑ 1.5%
Kenosha, WI
$1,515
Bloomington, IL
$1,537
Difference
$22.18
more
Groceries
↓ 1.1%
Kenosha, WI
$1,049
Bloomington, IL
$1,038
Difference
$11.56
less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$1,080
To$960
↓ $120
1 Bed
From$1,085
To$1,035
↓ $50.00
2 Bed
From$1,395
To$1,345
↓ $50.00
3 Bed
From$1,890
To$1,775
↓ $115
Kenosha, WIZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,010–$1,230/mo

Bloomington, ILZIP-level data

1BR range: $970–$1,100/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500
Monthly in Kenosha, WI
$7,831
Monthly in Bloomington, IL
$331
Difference

Home Values

Kenosha
Bloomington
$276K
Median Value
$239K
↑ +5.5%
YoY Change
↑ +4.1%
↑ +39.3%
5-Year Change
↑ +46.8%
$244K - $308K
Price Range
$167K - $312K

Homes in Bloomington are 13% less expensive than Kenosha

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↑ $1.4K
Per year
Monthly Difference
$119
More take-home
Effective Rate Diff
0.9%
Rate difference

Kenosha, WI

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Wisconsin State Tax
Effective: 5.9%
$8.8K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 30.6%
$45.9K
Take-Home Pay
$8,678/month
$104.1K

Bloomington, IL

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Illinois State Tax
Effective: 5.0%
$7.4K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 29.6%
$44.4K
Take-Home Pay
$8,797/month
$105.6K

Additional Tax Information

Kenosha, WI Tax Rates

Sales Tax:5.6%
Property Tax:1.8%

Bloomington, IL Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.8%
Property Tax:2.2%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

Environment

Kenosha
Bloomington
43 Good
Air Quality
54 Moderate
68.6%
Good Air Days
35.8%
98 High
Climate Risk
100 Very High
🌊🌡🌪
Top Hazards
🌊🌡🫨
▲+3.3°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.2°F
13 days
Heat Days >95°F
18 days
▲+3.3°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.2°F
13 days
Heat Days >95°F
18 days

Before moving from Kenosha, WI to Bloomington, IL

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Bloomington, IL for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Kenosha, WI. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
  2. Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
  3. Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
  4. Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Kenosha to Bloomington moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Bloomington, IL by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Kenosha, WI vs Bloomington, IL

How do the cost estimates for Kenosha, WI and Bloomington, IL compare?

Bloomington, IL has a modeled overall cost index 0.9% higher than Kenosha, WI. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in Kenosha, WI, the model estimates $153,968 in Bloomington, IL. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for Kenosha, WI and Bloomington, IL?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,395/month in Kenosha, WI and $1,345/month in Bloomington, IL. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.

💰 See how taxes change too — compare take-home pay between Wisconsin and Illinois on TaxTakeHome.com

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