CostIndexUSA

Bloomington, IL vs Jonesboro, AR Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

IL
Bloomington
93.5
overall index
$1,275/mo rent
More AffordableAR
Jonesboro
85.9
overall index
$1,325/mo rent

Jonesboro is moderately cheaper than Bloomington — 8.1% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Bloomington, you would need $73,500 in Jonesboro. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing28.0%
Bloomington
74.7
Jonesboro
53.8
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Bloomington
93.6
Jonesboro
93.6
🚗 Transportation4.3%
Bloomington
104.6
Jonesboro
100.1
🏥 Healthcare4.3%
Bloomington
94.6
Jonesboro
90.5
Utilities16.3%
Bloomington
89.6
Jonesboro
75

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Jonesboro, AR
$73,500
$6,500 less needed in Jonesboro

Formula: salary × (85.9 ÷ 93.5) = salary × 0.9187. 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×

Jonesboro, AR

Median Home Price
$196,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,325
Housing Index
53.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
12.3×

Bloomington has 28.0% lower housing costs compared to Jonesboro.

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

Jonesboro, AR

Median Household Income
$58,600
Per Capita Income
$33,400
Unemployment Rate
5.1%
Population
77,678
Top Industries
HealthcareEducationManufacturingRetailAgriculture

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)

Jonesboro, AR
3.7×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.