Cost of living comparison

compared to

Illinois vs. Italy Cost of Living Summary

Illinois is 41.6% more expensive than Italy overall.

Restaurants
pay 0.8% more in Illinois
Groceries
pay 23.4% more in Illinois
Transportation
pay 5.2% less in Illinois
Housing
pay 73.7% more in Illinois
Childcare
pay 2.6 times more in Illinois
Entertainment and Sports
pay 45.3% more in Illinois
Clothing
pay 9.3% less in Illinois

The cost of childcare, housing, entertainment and sports, groceries, and restaurants in Illinois are more expensive than in Italy. Expenses including clothing and transportation are lower in Illinois. Notably, childcare is significantly more expensive in Illinois.

Illinois vs. Italy Cost Breakdown

If you lived in Illinois instead of Italy, you would:

pay 0.8% more for restaurants

 
Italy
Illinois
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant $18.50
€15.95
$16.12
 
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
$11.64
€10.03
$10.72
 
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) $2.93
€2.52
$2.52
 

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pay 23.4% more for groceries

 
Italy
Illinois
Bread
1 loaf
$2.30
€1.98
$3.11
 
Local cheese (8 oz) $8.02
€6.92
$6.06
 
Milk (1 gallon) $6.00
€5.17
$3.41
 

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pay 5.2% less for transportation

 
Italy
Illinois
Gasoline (1 gallon) $7.83
€6.75
$3.32
 
Monthly public transit pass $44.40
€38.29
$69.58
 
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) $32,732.41
€28,226.04
$31,159.60
 

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pay 73.7% more for housing

 
Italy
Illinois
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
$31.45
€27.12
$72.20
 
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area $740.98
€638.97
$1,332.19
 
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center $575.41
€496.19
$1,112.01
 

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pay 2.6 times more for childcare

 
Italy
Illinois
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly $547.22
€471.89
$1,386.42
 
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters $9,750.16
€8,407.82
$26,426.10
 

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pay 45.3% more for entertainment and sports

 
Italy
Illinois
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) $5.73
€4.94
$5.38
 
Cappuccino in mid-range area $1.95
€1.68
$5.01
 
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
$6.86
€5.92
$10.78
 

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pay 9.3% less for clothing

 
Italy
Illinois
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
$86.36
€74.47
$55.71
 
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
$39.95
€34.45
$43.50
 
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
$97.77
€84.31
$91.99
 

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The statistics used to build this comparison are calculated using data from users just like you. We average the price of thousands of data points entered by users across the world. Learn more about our data sources. Page last updated: December 2025
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