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Survey shows how B-N stacks up in cost of living
By Michelle Koetters
mkoetters@pantagraph.com
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BLOOMINGTON -- At work, at home and around the community, consumers everywhere talk about the cost of gas, groceries and heat. Now they can throw some recent national statistics into their conversations.

A national survey stacks the Twin Cities against other communities across the country on prices for items ranging from a half-gallon of whole milk to an annual vet exam for a 4-year-old dog.

In its American Chamber of Commerce Researchers Association cost of living index, the Virginia-based Council for Community and Economic Research shows Bloomington-Normal had an average cost of living index of 94.4 in 2007. The overall index includes the average prices for goods from the first three quarters of 2007 in six categories — grocery items, housing, utilities, transportation, health care and miscellaneous goods and services. A ranking of 100 would be average.

At about six points below the national average, that figure is a compliment to the area, said Michael Malone, executive director of the McLean County Chamber of Commerce, which price checks items in the survey. A low unemployment rate and a strong work force are reasons why it is cheaper to live in Bloomington-Normal than other parts of the country, he said.

“We’re not the cheapest place in the world to live, for sure,” Malone said. “By far, we’re not the most expensive place to live.”

Of the 303 urban areas that participated in the survey, New York tallied the highest cost of living index at 212.8. Joplin, Mo., is the least expensive place to live with a cost of living index of 81. Among the 10 Illinois areas, Bloomington-Normal has the sixth-highest cost of living index.

Participation in the survey is the chamber’s contribution to economic and business development in town, Malone said. Businesses look at such survey data when they decide whether to locate in a certain community, he said. Residents also can look at the cost of living information along with the quality of life and schools in a community when they decide where to move, he said.

“This is just a part of the puzzle,” Malone said.

The cost of living index is probably a minor consideration in a family’s decision to move, said Gary Koppenhaver, chair of the finance, insurance and law department in the College of Business at Illinois State University. People go where the jobs are, but businesses want to know a community will be a reasonable place for employees to live, he said.

“It is interesting, to me, that some things are higher and some things are lower here … It’s still good to know a little bit,” Koppenhaver said. “It’s a talking point, but I suppose its most value would be trying to recruit businesses to come to town.”

In Bloomington-Normal, residents’ housing costs rank as the best value among the six categories, with an index of 83 percent. That places the Twin Cities as the third-cheapest area in the state for housing.

But housing costs only include apartment rent and mortgage principal and interest. Actual housing expenses in town probably would be higher than some other communities if property taxes were part of the statistics, Koppenhaver said.

On the flip side, transportation and grocery items cost Twin City residents the most.

Transportation, which includes gasoline and auto maintenance, had an index of 105, a little higher than the rest of the country but among the middle of the pack in Illinois. Grocery items had a cost of living index of 100.3, the third most expensive area in the state, behind Chicago and the Joliet-Will County area.

What it costs

A national survey shows the average prices for about 60 items from the first three quarters of 2007 in Bloomington-Normal and 302 other urban areas. Following is a sample of the cost for some items in the Twin Cities.

• T-bone steak — $8.86 per pound

• Half-gallon of whole milk — $1.89

• Dozen eggs — $1.38

• Two-bedroom, 1 1/2- or 2-bath, 950-square-foot apartment — $669

• 2,400-square foot home, 8,000 square-foot lot, all utilities — $255,936

• Monthly energy cost for above home — $167.45

• Adult eye exam — $75.40

• Doctor visit — $84.73

• Advil, 50 tablets, 200 mg — $5.58

• McDonald’s quarter-pounder with cheese — $2.72

• Woman’s shampoo, trim and blow-dry — $26.07

• Crest or Colgate 6-ounce to 6.4-ounce toothpaste — $2.36

• Men’s dress shirt — $19.69

• Bowling one game, Saturday night — $3.08

• Veterinary service for a 4-year-old dog — $35.55

Take a look
A national survey stacks the Twin Cities against other communities across the country on prices for items ranging from a a gallon of gas to an annual vet exam for a 4-year-old dog.
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Reader comments on this story - 39 total

Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.

Re: To Re: reality wrote on Feb 22, 2008 3:24 PM:

" I really have no idea what you are trying to say in your rant(s).. and I am not sure you do either. I also don't think you are reading any of these posts before you begin your diatribe. Everyone in these posts understands that B/N is not Chicago. Regardless.. it is simple. If you can no longer afford to live in a city... look for other options. B/N is a nice city, and has more perks than many other cities it's size. That comes at a cost to the residents. I would love to live in Malibu... but guess what.. I can't afford it. This is not unique to B/N. Desirable cities cost more... less desirabe cost less. If you need a good example of this... take a drive through Gary... or any of the other 100,000 cities where the economy is falling apart. I really don't think this is a State Farm ploy to price every non-employee in B/N out of the city.. that just sounds really.. really dumb. "

Re: LDT wrote on Feb 22, 2008 2:32 PM:

" Exactly, if you actually look around you will see the difference. There are a whole lot more jobs in Indy than here. It is also very clean and well maintained. Why is so expensive to live here? I was born here and I don't understand it. "

Agreed wrote on Feb 22, 2008 2:29 PM:

" Comparing Bloomington to Chicago is one of the reasons we have the problems we do. People and SF need to face some hard realities. Cost Of Living is getting out of control because everyone wants to think this is a big city. sorry, but it is not, and never will be. If we wanted to live in Chicago we would. and no we don't have to just accept it and get over it. "

LDT wrote on Feb 22, 2008 2:26 PM:

" I agree with hmmm. I recently considered a move to Indy. The cost of living in the City of Indianapolis is nearly 15% lower then B-N by almost every single cost of living calculator I could find. I went there a few different times for a weekend at a time. I went out to eat and got some basic groceries for the hotel. Everything was cheaper. Gas was almost 20c a gallon cheaper in Indy then it was here. Groceries were cheaper. It was pretty close, but the dining out was a hair cheaper as well.

I looked up houses and could find houses with brick fronts for cheaper then houses with vinyl siding cost here. Plus, the houses were around 1000-1250 sq feet bigger. Furthermore, the property taxes were about half as much.

I also called daycare facilities and got an average of $427 a month for a 3 yr old. Try finding full time day care in B-N for that. The only thing more expensive was license plate tags which would have cost me around $200 a year more. "

to re:reality wrote on Feb 22, 2008 2:25 PM:

" Again you really don't listen do you? Reality's point is compare Apples to Apples. Pointing out that COL is higher here than comparable towns our size is hardly reason to attack. And if you are attacking because you think this is Chicago then you have problems. Wake up and look around you. You and people like you are part of the problem. If you don't think things are overpriced then you must be one of the people you discribe. "

really?! wrote on Feb 22, 2008 1:53 PM:

" Woman’s shampoo, trim and blow-dry — $26.07 AND Veterinary service for a 4-year-old dog — $35.55...that's it?! Where are they getting their hair cut and where is this cheap vet appt? My hair appts range anywhere from $60-90 and just took my 4 year old dog to the vet last month and paid $140. Not sure where these stats came but don't think they are very accurate.
"

re:reality wrote on Feb 22, 2008 1:34 PM:

" If you are so smart "reality".. then why don't you pack up and move to one of the many small communities within 20 minutes drive of B/N? If you are being priced out of the city, then there are options. B/N is not that bad. You have a very busy city, with a strong regional airport, 3-4 college campuses, clean well maintained streets, and several huge companies that keep your economy rolling along. A restaurant on every corner.. two malls.. plenty of hospitals.. and a transit system. I guarantee you many people living is similar sized cities are not nearly so luck as you. I wonder how many people posting complaints about the costs of B/N also have 2-3 cars in the driveway, a flat screen on the wall, closets full of clothes, and a sun tan from their recent week on the beach... oh.. and a huge amount of credit card debt thanks to the above? Maybe it's not the city that is so overpriced.. it your spending habits. People always forget that. "

Re: To "minonk 1" wrote on Feb 22, 2008 1:31 PM:

" You forgot sleeping with your sister! "

To: Re: To Crowd wrote on Feb 22, 2008 1:27 PM:

" Yes bury that head a little deeper now! Being smart enough to realize this is not Chicago is hardly being negative. I dare say just realistic, and having our eyes open. Staying ignorant is a hardly anything to brag about or put yourself on a pedastal for. This town compared to it's comtemporaries is very high in cost. You should try to actually look at some facts before speaking and denouncing others. "

Re:To Re: HMMMMMM wrote on Feb 22, 2008 1:24 PM:

" I'm not necessarily comparing the two. I should have also stated that living in a city does not come with a guaranteed six figure income to help my point. I have people working for me that are making a wage that is only slighty... above what they could get paid in BN. I know this because we do business in B/N, and we pay part of the B/N employess salaries. B/N is not that bad when you take into consideration what the city has to offer. Why don't you use your apple's to apple's comparison for other cities your size and their quality of life. I heard you can get a great deal on a home in Gary Indiana. The grass is always greener. Enjoy what you have got. It could be worse. "

Re: To Crowd wrote on Feb 22, 2008 12:42 PM:

" Thanks for proving my point . . . "

Statistical Proof wrote on Feb 22, 2008 12:21 PM:

" Isn't it odd that the Pantagraph didn't provide any type of information on how we could view this study ourselves? Oh, you can grab the data here: www.coli.org for a price. How nice. "

Ekim wrote on Feb 22, 2008 12:10 PM:

" What above average education? They only thing other states make fun of more than IL education is IL drivers! Where do you people get these ludricous ideas? Really where do you guys come from? This place is so over priced and for What? "

Gosh wrote on Feb 22, 2008 12:06 PM:

" Geez I live in NY and the prices here are much worse. Why Bloomington/Normal is the mostest greatest place on earth to live. I wish I lived there, how perfect! What a croc, you put evidence in front of people and the blindly don't see it. No wonder you keep electing corrupt politician in this state. "

Reality wrote on Feb 22, 2008 12:03 PM:

" You people crack me up. How can you compare Bloomington Normal to a real city? This isn't and doesn't want to be Chicago or any major city, if you are comparing cost of living between here and Chicago you are not very intelligent, and quit frankly lack common sense. You have compare area of the coutry and size, and amenities. If you do that, you will see how inflated everything is here. It is no wonder other businesses don't come here. "

To Crowd wrote on Feb 22, 2008 11:13 AM:

" What did you hear that was positive? Compared to the rest of the Mid-west we are way overpriced. shafted to be exact. Unless you really think you can compare Bloomington Normal to Chicago? That would like comparing Champaign to New York Citiy? Get a grip, this proves we are being over charged. "

To Re: HMMMMMM wrote on Feb 22, 2008 11:10 AM:

" Again who compares a place like Blm/Nrml to Chicago. Compare Apples to Apples here, and Bloomington is a joke. cost of living is inflated here and everyone knows it. The whole town has to pay SF prices even if they don't work there, except without the discount. That's a good neighbor for you. Housing cost and everthing else is a joke. You can live in Indianapolis, or Madison cheeper than Bloomington. "

Dave wrote on Feb 22, 2008 11:02 AM:

" Who just said 'words aren't just words'? Where are the real estate and sales tax comparisons. And, the article talks about cost of living.....how about standard of living. Our standard of living is in decline thanks to all of the spendthrifts sucking on the taxpayer nipple. "

LittleMac wrote on Feb 22, 2008 10:32 AM:

" "Minonk 1": If you want it to stay that way, I'd suggest you keep it to yourself. "

energy $ wrote on Feb 22, 2008 9:53 AM:

" $167... ha, maybe for just power or just the gas, but not combined. "

Re: HMMMMMM wrote on Feb 22, 2008 9:46 AM:

" You could have it much worse. I moved to downtown Chicago for a job from B/N. I only pay $5000 a year on my property taxes.. but the average cost of a 1200 SQ two bedroom condo downtown is about $350,000. That is usually before the $20-35,000 you have to pay for your one parking spot... and doesn't include the $300-1000 a month (on top of the mortgage) you will spend on assesments just to live in the building. My food bills border on exstorshion, and gas is usually around $.15-25 cents higher per gallon. Throw in the terrible schools unless you can afford college tuition level private schools.. and that is what you get for living in a big city. B/N is a paradise, and I didn't realise how good the quality of life was in B/N until I left. "

Taxes wrote on Feb 22, 2008 9:45 AM:

" You can't compare apples to oranges when talking taxes. You can not just look at how Illinois property taxes compare to other state property taxes. You have to look at the overall tax burden. Unless you somehow only pay property taxes and not income tax, sales tax, etc. States use different formulas for their taxes ... overall Illinois may rank 7th highest in property tax, but it does not rank as the 7th highest in overall tax burden. Illinois ranks 22 in local tax burden compared to all other states. And it ranks 14 in federal tax burden compared to all other states. It is 14th overall. The average total tax burden is 32.7%. Illinois' total tax burden is 33.2%. "

To "minonk 1" wrote on Feb 22, 2008 9:43 AM:

" Real nice town, as long as you don't mind drinking and showering in sulfur water. "

Not complaining, but wrote on Feb 22, 2008 9:39 AM:

" Taxes should be included if you want a true assessment. "

CS wrote on Feb 22, 2008 9:04 AM:

" I moved here about 9 months ago from the St Louis area (not by choice). Eventhough I don't want to live here, I am pretty happy witht he cost of living. Housing is a little cheaper but property taxes are a lot higher. Missouri does much higher income tax and also personal property tax (cars, boats, motorcycles, RVs, etc), so taxes about even out. The big surprise was groceries. After our first trip to Meier, we though they forgot to ring up half our cart. The prices here were a lot lower.

The overall quality of life here is pretty good, I just hate the Winter weather :) "

to left one thing out wrote on Feb 22, 2008 8:14 AM:

" and your thoughts worth a penny. thanks for adding value "

ummm.. wrote on Feb 22, 2008 7:30 AM:

" If the cost of living is so much cheaper here...then why is it that every time I leave town...I pick up what I need cheaper than here? "

bob wrote on Feb 22, 2008 7:01 AM:

" Where did they get the engery cost for the home, mine runs aroung 310.00
Thanks Cilco!! "

To Hmmmm wrote on Feb 22, 2008 6:36 AM:

" Property taxes are nothing here. I come from near Philly, where we paid nearly $8,000/year in taxes on a house smaller than the one I have here (and attached to somebody else's).

B/N, we have it very good here. No need to complain. "

Minonk 1 wrote on Feb 22, 2008 6:32 AM:

" You Folks that have had it in the Big City come on up to Minonk we have a real nice Town to live in. "

To: Hmmmmm wrote on Feb 22, 2008 5:55 AM:

" No, they are not that bad. You have obviously never lived outside of this community. Good luck finding a similar community with an above avg education and infrastructure in place with lower taxes. You can move to all sorts of places all over this country and find lower taxes. However, you will find that the education and infrastructure in those communites is substandard. Heck, there are even places with higher taxes and worse education/infrastructure than our community. Just look to the fine communities outside of Chicago and Saint Louis for examples of this unfortunate situation. If you don't like it....move. "

Re: Hmmmm wrote on Feb 22, 2008 3:12 AM:

" Illinois ranks at number 7 highest in the country for property tax. Alaska is the lowest "

Hmmmm...... wrote on Feb 21, 2008 10:34 PM:

" I would like to see some figures on our property taxes. They are UNGODLY! Compare that to other communities. See how we stack up to Chicago and other big cities! It goes up every year with no end in sight. We protested once and our taxes went up more. They know how to shut you up at city hall. "

Not So Cheap wrote on Feb 21, 2008 10:21 PM:

" After moving here from another part of the country, I can tell you that B-N isn't as cheap to live in as we'd like to think it is. Property taxes are breathtaking and keep going up even if property values are steady or declining. The cost of housing is out of whack with the quality in that shoddy new housing costs far beyond its value. Food is no cheaper than other places. It may seem a item of pride to have an index below 100 but it's not really lower in cost of living to be here. "

Eric H. wrote on Feb 21, 2008 10:17 PM:

" So trying to figure out which 10 areas they checked, by population I'm guessing Chicago proper, Joliet/Will County (as mentioned in the article), north/west suburbs, Rockford, Peoria, Moline/Rock Island, Bloomington-Normal, Champaign-Urbana, Springfield, and metro east. It would be interesting to see a comparison with more rural areas of the state. Though I'm sure average salaries are lower and jobs harder to come by, the difference in housing prices is pretty amazing. "

william wrote on Feb 21, 2008 9:37 PM:

" So burying these towns in debt is contributuing? Well, I guess I have not contributed. "

In Japan wrote on Feb 21, 2008 8:04 PM:

" Wow, I've forgotten how cheap groceries are. I pay about $2.50 for a liter of milk (so $5ish for a 1/2gallon) and about $1.38 for four eggs. "

Crowd wrote on Feb 21, 2008 7:50 PM:

" The "I hate Bloomington/Normal" crowd is going to have a hard time justifying this! I’m sure they will find a way to spin it negatively. It’s what they do as they fail to contribute in any other way. "

Left one thing out wrote on Feb 21, 2008 7:35 PM:

" Getting hosed by council on the Judydome = Priceless "
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