Cost of Living Comparison between El Cajon, CA vs Bloomington, IN

Stores like Walmart are known to offer low prices. Shopping there can considerably reduce cost of living, as the prices in grocery stores can vary a lot. ( 2024-11-21 salary.com )

Bloomington, IN does not have a major sports team, but don’t worry, check out local colleges and high school sports schedules. These games usually have very cheap tickets and the spirit and enthusiasm of the crowd often makes up for the level of skill. ( 2024-11-21 salary.com )

The average cost of internet access in the U.S. is $66.20 per month. There are many providers and various packages that are offered, many that bundle internet, cable, and phone together. Pricing for various packages can vary a lot even in the same location. You should evaluate the options based on your usage and preferences and pick the best fit for your needs. One tip to reduce this cost and your overall cost of living, is to get cable service from another source like Direct TV, Netflix, Sling, Amazon Prime or others. ( 2024-11-21 salary.com )

The average cost of moving to another state is around $5,600 for a distance of 1,200 miles. This price can vary a lot if the distance is greater and depending on how much is being moved. Even if your employer is covering the cost of a move, there will still be costs that are not covered. A cost that typically occurs is that your existing furniture and accessories are either too large, too small, or not appropriate for your new home. You may find that after you move, you will need to purchase many new items for the new location, for example, window coverings, rugs, lighting, and outdoor gear. Make sure you budget for these types of expenses and include them in the first year’s cost of living at your new location. Finally, although there is no dollar cost, is the stress of moving, which will increase if you have children or pets. Make sure you prepare in advance for what additional TLC those kids and pets will need to have a good move. ( 2024-11-21 salary.com )

Make sure your child has a favorite toy, doll, game, clothing, blanket, snacks, etc. to take with them during the transition. Once you arrive, let your child help with arranging and decorating their new room. You may be tempted to unpack everything when you arrive, but make sure you take a break from unpacking to spend time playing and relaxing with your child. Plan on packing a special bag to take with you with those items that you will need first. Towels, soap, a few basic kitchen utensils and food items like crackers, tea, juice, will make your new location functional as soon as you arrive and fell more like home. A small new toy, book, or video that you give to your child when you arrive might help them to feel happy and relaxed in the new location. ( 2024-11-21 salary.com )

It is difficult to exactly predict the cost of child care in any city, which for parents, is a large part of the cost of living. There are different arrangements and lengths of time that are needed to care for a child, and costs may vary a lot depending on the services provided. Based on the state average, for Bloomington child care for a child up to 3 years could cost $8918 per year. Indiana is ranked NO. 30 in annual cost of child care in the U.S. ( 2024-11-21 salary.com )

In Bloomington,IN, my friend pays $650 for a large 2 bedroom apartment. Since he has 2 children, he needs to have a large apartment. ( 2024-11-21 salary.com )

Because Indiana University is located in Bloomington, there is a large student population. This is great, even if you are not a student, since there are always lots of free or cheap events to go to and plenty of cheap places to eat. Familiarize yourself with the places where students hang out, and take advantage of discounted or bargain prices, you are sure to be able to keep your cost of living reasonable. ( 2024-11-21 salary.com )

The sales tax for Bloomington is 7%. This is the tax that you will pay on things that you buy. ( 2024-11-21 salary.com )

You could save up to $1,000 per year, depending on your location, by using public transport instead of driving. Not only will you reduce the stress of driving and finding a place to park once you reach your destination, your car and tires will last longer, and you will spend less on gas. A side benefit is that you may be able to relax, work, or read on the way to work, or get to know and chat with other commuters. Some employers offer employees reduced fee bus or transit passes, so check that out with your employer. ( 2024-11-21 salary.com )