Cost of Living Comparison Between Albert Lea, MN and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Albert Lea, MN and Chicago, IL

🙂 Solo nomad: Albert Lea, MN is 24.5% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 39% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Albert Lea, MN is 30% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 40.4% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.9 $14.9

$20.82 $20.82

-28.43%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$70 $70

$100 $100

-30.27%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.42 $10.42

$11.97 $11.97

-12.95%

Cappuccino

$5.38 $5.38

$5.56 $5.56

-3.24%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.88 $1.88

$3.11 $3.11

-39.55%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.5 $1.5

$2.42 $2.42

-38.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.6 $4.6

$6.86 $6.86

-32.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.84 $5.84

$8.45 $8.45

-30.89%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.86 $0.86

$1.04 $1.04

-17.31%

White Bread (500g)

$2.93 $2.93

$4.15 $4.15

-29.40%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.25 $2.25

$5.52 $5.52

-59.24%

Eggs

$3.09 $3.09

$4.65 $4.65

-33.55%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.98 $8.98

$14.33 $14.33

-37.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.85 $10.85

$14.88 $14.88

-27.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.75 $15.75

$19.34 $19.34

-18.56%

Apples (1kg)

$4.61 $4.61

$5.17 $5.17

-10.83%

Banana (1kg)

$1.2 $1.2

$1.71 $1.71

-29.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.46 $5.46

$4.41 $4.41

23.81%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.72 $4.72

$4.51 $4.51

4.66%

Potato (1kg)

$2.48 $2.48

$2.53 $2.53

-1.98%

Onion (1kg)

$2.27 $2.27

$2.74 $2.74

-17.15%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.03 $2.03

$2.43 $2.43

-16.46%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.15 $2.15

$2.7 $2.7

-20.37%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.3 $9.3

$15.19 $15.19

-38.78%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.24 $14.24

$16.42 $16.42

-13.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.14 $2.14

$2.35 $2.35

-8.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.39 $3.39

$3.7 $3.7

-8.38%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.05 $2.05

$2.53 $2.53

-18.97%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.55 $3.55

$3.34 $3.34

6.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.44 $1.44

$1.42 $1.42

1.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$45.06 $45.06

$25.42 $25.42

77.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.79 $0.79

$1.08 $1.08

-26.85%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$38.7K $38.7K

$32.4K $32.4K

19.47%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$27.3K $27.3K

$26.2K $26.2K

3.96%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$202 $202

$188 $188

7.50%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$54.2 $54.2

$63.7 $63.7

-14.88%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$70.5 $70.5

$65.2 $65.2

8.07%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.58 $43.58

$76.7 $76.7

-43.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$12.52 $12.52

$14.93 $14.93

-16.14%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$962 $962

$2,063 $2,063

-53.38%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.6K $23.6K

$39.2K $39.2K

-39.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$44.76 $44.76

$64.3 $64.3

-30.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.92 $24.92

$52.4 $52.4

-52.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$49.98 $49.98

$95.2 $95.2

-47.51%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$59.1 $59.1

$145 $145

-59.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,112 $1,112

$2,378 $2,378

-53.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$735 $735

$1,584 $1,584

-53.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,725 $1,725

$4,763 $4,763

-63.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,249 $1,249

$2,815 $2,815

-55.62%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,768 $2,768

$3,588 $3,588

-22.86%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,446 $2,446

$2,490 $2,490

-1.77%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,909 $2,909

$5,275 $5,275

-44.85%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.49

6.6

-1.67%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Albert Lea, MN: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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