Cost of living in Chicago
compared to
#30
City Cost of Living Rank
Index: 76 (New York City = 100)
Cost of living in Chicago vs. United States overall average
Chicago is 20.9% more expensive than United States overall.
- Restaurants
-
pay 11.2% more in Chicago
- Groceries
-
pay 2.7% more in Chicago
- Transportation
-
pay 4.5% more in Chicago
- Housing
-
pay 13.6% more in Chicago
- Childcare
-
pay 58.2% more in Chicago
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 34.1% more in Chicago
- Clothing
-
pay 22.2% more in Chicago
The cost of childcare, entertainment and sports, clothing, housing, restaurants, and transportation in Chicago are more expensive than in United States.
Chicago Cost of Living Breakdown
Restaurants
|
Cost
|
Range | |
|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant | $20.50 |
$15.00
$15.00
$40.00
$40.00
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$12.00 |
$10.00
$10.00
$15.00
$15.00
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) | $2.96 |
$2.00
$2.00
$4.00
$4.00
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) | $2.33 |
$1.79
$1.79
$3.00
$3.00
|
Chicago - Cost of restaurants
Groceries
|
Cost
|
Range | |
|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$4.01 |
$2.74
$2.74
$5.51
$5.51
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) | $7.05 |
$4.41
$4.41
$13.23
$13.23
|
| Milk (1 gallon) | $4.30 |
$2.99
$2.99
$6.99
$6.99
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$5.02 |
$2.50
$2.50
$8.49
$8.49
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) | $6.55 |
$2.50
$2.50
$10.00
$10.00
|
| Apples (1 lb) | $2.31 |
$1.00
$1.00
$3.95
$3.95
|
| Bananas (1 lb) | $0.79 |
$0.66
$0.66
$2.00
$2.00
|
| Oranges (1 lb) | $1.85 |
$0.99
$0.99
$4.00
$4.00
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) | $2.09 |
$1.00
$1.00
$3.19
$3.19
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) | $1.16 |
$0.50
$0.50
$2.00
$2.00
|
| Onions (1 lb) | $1.26 |
$0.50
$0.50
$2.00
$2.00
|
Chicago - Cost of groceries
Transportation
|
Cost
|
Range | |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) | $3.81 |
$3.20
$3.20
$4.79
$4.79
|
| Monthly public transit pass | $75.00 |
$75.00
$75.00
$120.00
$120.00
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) | $35,691.85 |
$31,000.00
$31K
$38,295.00
$38K
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) | $14.43 |
$14.43
$14.43
$21.40
$21.40
|
Chicago - Cost of transportation
Housing
|
Cost
|
Range | |
|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$65.83 |
$45.00
$45.00
$100.00
$100.00
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area | $2,418.00 |
$1,850.00
$2K
$3,200.00
$3K
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center | $1,692.50 |
$1,400.00
$1K
$2,200.00
$2K
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$141.41 |
$69.97
$69.97
$267.65
$267.65
|
Chicago - Cost of housing
Childcare
|
Cost
|
Range | |
|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly | $2,050.00 |
$1,200.00
$1K
$3,000.00
$3K
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters | $39,114.29 |
$20,000.00
$20K
$45,450.00
$45K
|
Chicago - Cost of childcare
Entertainment and Sports
|
Cost
|
Range | |
|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) | $7.00 |
$4.00
$4.00
$10.00
$10.00
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area | $5.53 |
$4.00
$4.00
$8.00
$8.00
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$17.00 |
$14.00
$14.00
$20.00
$20.00
|
| Monthly membership at local gym | $71.80 |
$20.00
$20.00
$160.00
$160.00
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema | $18.00 |
$14.00
$14.00
$20.00
$20.00
|
Chicago - Cost of entertainment and sports
Clothing
|
Cost
|
Range | |
|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$64.24 |
$35.00
$35.00
$100.00
$100.00
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$49.62 |
$30.00
$30.00
$75.00
$75.00
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$99.48 |
$70.00
$70.00
$140.00
$140.00
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) | $146.50 |
$80.00
$80.00
$250.00
$250.00
|
Chicago - Cost of clothing
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