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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,883 in Albert Lea, MN versus $3,051 in Chicago, IL.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,805 in Albert Lea, MN versus $4,638 in Chicago, IL.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,727 in Albert Lea, MN versus $6,224 in Chicago, IL.

Living in Albert Lea, MN costs roughly 38% less than in Chicago, IL, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Albert Lea, MN 41% above, Chicago, IL 128% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.93 $14.93

$20.67 $20.67

-27.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$71.2 $71.2

$100 $100

-29.12%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.44 $10.44

$11.86 $11.86

-11.97%

Cappuccino

$5.49 $5.49

$5.54 $5.54

-0.90%

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

$1.88 $1.88

$3.06 $3.06

-38.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.55 $1.55

$2.48 $2.48

-37.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.56 $4.56

$6.92 $6.92

-34.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.84 $5.84

$8.13 $8.13

-28.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.87 $0.87

$1.04 $1.04

-16.35%

White Bread (500g)

$2.91 $2.91

$3.91 $3.91

-25.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.14 $2.14

$5.42 $5.42

-60.52%

Eggs

$3.25 $3.25

$4.48 $4.48

-27.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.02 $9.02

$14.52 $14.52

-37.88%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.74 $10.74

$15.21 $15.21

-29.39%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.86 $15.86

$19.25 $19.25

-17.61%

Apples (1kg)

$4.72 $4.72

$5.39 $5.39

-12.43%

Banana (1kg)

$1.16 $1.16

$1.69 $1.69

-31.36%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.20 $5.20

$4.32 $4.32

20.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.73 $4.73

$4.51 $4.51

4.88%

Potato (1kg)

$2.51 $2.51

$2.56 $2.56

-1.95%

Onion (1kg)

$2.22 $2.22

$2.70 $2.70

-17.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.99 $1.99

$2.41 $2.41

-17.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.23 $2.23

$2.62 $2.62

-14.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.28 $9.28

$15.02 $15.02

-38.22%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.05 $15.05

$14.71 $14.71

2.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.15 $2.15

$2.48 $2.48

-13.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.32 $3.32

$3.69 $3.69

-10.03%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.03 $2.03

$2.55 $2.55

-20.39%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.5 $75.5

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.60 $3.60

$3.29 $3.29

9.42%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.37 $1.37

$1.43 $1.43

-4.20%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$44.59 $44.59

$24.72 $24.72

80.38%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.83 $0.83

$1.09 $1.09

-23.85%

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

$39.0K $39.0K

$31.8K $31.8K

22.67%

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

$26.6K $26.6K

$26.4K $26.4K

0.66%

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

$208 $208

$183 $183

13.42%

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

$55.2 $55.2

$61.8 $61.8

-10.80%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$70.2 $70.2

$65.0 $65.0

7.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.50 $43.50

$76.1 $76.1

-42.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.04 $13.04

Cinema Ticket

$12.71 $12.71

$14.75 $14.75

-13.83%

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

$953 $953

$2,056 $2,056

-53.67%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.5K $23.5K

$38.5K $38.5K

-39.09%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.36 $45.36

$63.9 $63.9

-29.05%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.46 $25.46

$51.6 $51.6

-50.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$50.6 $50.6

$97.3 $97.3

-48.03%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$60.2 $60.2

$147 $147

-59.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,101 $1,101

$2,349 $2,349

-53.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$764 $764

$1,581 $1,581

-51.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,697 $1,697

$4,708 $4,708

-63.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,254 $1,254

$2,716 $2,716

-53.84%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,834 $2,834

$3,976 $3,976

-28.74%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,376 $2,376

$2,632 $2,632

-9.73%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,048 $3,048

$4,723 $4,723

-35.47%

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: April 22, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,101 in Albert Lea, MN and $2,349 in Chicago, IL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chicago, IL pays 55% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $71 in Albert Lea, MN vs $100 in Chicago, IL for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $357 vs $447 per month, with Albert Lea, MN cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Albert Lea, MN vs Chicago, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Albert Lea, MN and Chicago, IL differ by about 62% in total monthly costs ($1,883 vs $3,051 including rent). Albert Lea, MN is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Chicago, IL earns 55% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,101 in Albert Lea, MN versus $2,349 in Chicago, IL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $953 in Albert Lea, MN versus $2,056 in Chicago, IL. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Albert Lea, MN – a meal for two runs $71.0 versus $100 in Chicago, IL. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,883 in Albert Lea, MN versus $3,051 in Chicago, IL, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Albert Lea, MN but tight or insufficient in Chicago, IL. The gap between the two cities makes Albert Lea, MN the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Albert Lea, MN and Chicago, IL are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Albert Lea, MN gentler on the wallet – expenses run 62% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.