CostIndexUSA

Bloomington, IN vs Monroe, LA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

IN
Bloomington
95.1
overall index
$1,550/mo rent
More AffordableLA
Monroe
83.6
overall index
$1,100/mo rent

Monroe is moderately cheaper than Bloomington — 12.1% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Bloomington, you would need $70,300 in Monroe. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing−50.0%
Bloomington
85.6
Monroe
42.8
🛒 Groceries−0.6%
Bloomington
94.3
Monroe
93.7
🚗 Transportation−3.5%
Bloomington
104.1
Monroe
100.5
🏥 Healthcare−3.5%
Bloomington
94.2
Monroe
90.9
⚡ Utilities−16.5%
Bloomington
86.5
Monroe
72.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
→
Equivalent salary in Monroe, LA
$70,300
$9,700 less needed in Monroe

Formula: salary × (83.6 ÷ 95.1) = salary × 0.8791. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Bloomington, IN

Median Home Price
$288,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,550
Housing Index
85.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
15.5×

Monroe, LA

Median Home Price
$157,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,100
Housing Index
42.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
11.9×

Bloomington has 50.0% lower housing costs compared to Monroe.

Income & Job Market

Bloomington, IN

Median Household Income
$58,700
Per Capita Income
$33,500
Unemployment Rate
4.4%
Population
79,168
Top Industries
EducationHealthcareTechnologyGovernmentRetail

Monroe, LA

Median Household Income
$50,300
Per Capita Income
$28,700
Unemployment Rate
7.3%
Population
47,252
Top Industries
HealthcareEducationManufacturingGovernmentRetail

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Bloomington, IN
3.2×income-to-rent ratio

68% of income left after rent (median)

Monroe, LA
3.8×income-to-rent ratio

74% of income left after rent (median)

Bloomington vs other cities

Bloomington, IN
vs
Evansville, IN
Index: 95.1Index: 91.5
Bloomington, IN
vs
Fort Wayne, IN
Index: 95.1Index: 92.6
Bloomington, IN
vs
Indianapolis, IN
Index: 95.1Index: 95.7
Bloomington, IN
vs
Napa, CA
Index: 95.1Index: 112.6
Bloomington, IN
vs
Bloomington, IL
Index: 95.1Index: 93.5

Monroe vs other cities

Monroe, LA
vs
Baton Rouge, LA
Index: 83.6Index: 90.8
Monroe, LA
vs
Lafayette, LA
Index: 83.6Index: 87.2
Monroe, LA
vs
Lake Charles, LA
Index: 83.6Index: 85.9
Monroe, LA
vs
Charleston, WV
Index: 83.6Index: 88.7
Monroe, LA
vs
San Luis Obispo, CA
Index: 83.6Index: 108.6

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.