Cost of Living Comparison Between Alexandria, MN and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Alexandria, MN and Chicago, IL

🙂 Solo nomad: Alexandria, MN is 14.3% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 26% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Alexandria, MN is 8.9% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 24.1% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.74 $14.74

$20.82 $20.82

-29.20%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$60.8 $60.8

$100 $100

-39.39%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.88 $9.88

$11.97 $11.97

-17.46%

Cappuccino

$5.3 $5.3

$5.56 $5.56

-4.68%

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

$2.01 $2.01

$3.11 $3.11

-35.37%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.94 $1.94

$2.42 $2.42

-19.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.37 $5.37

$6.86 $6.86

-21.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.88 $6.88

$8.45 $8.45

-18.58%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.98 $0.98

$1.04 $1.04

-5.77%

White Bread (500g)

$3.23 $3.23

$4.15 $4.15

-22.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.83 $3.83

$5.52 $5.52

-30.62%

Eggs

$3.29 $3.29

$4.65 $4.65

-29.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.34 $9.34

$14.33 $14.33

-34.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.85 $11.85

$14.88 $14.88

-20.36%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.57 $14.57

$19.34 $19.34

-24.66%

Apples (1kg)

$5.11 $5.11

$5.17 $5.17

-1.16%

Banana (1kg)

$1.15 $1.15

$1.71 $1.71

-32.75%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.73 $5.73

$4.41 $4.41

29.93%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.25 $5.25

$4.51 $4.51

16.41%

Potato (1kg)

$3.81 $3.81

$2.53 $2.53

50.59%

Onion (1kg)

$3.73 $3.73

$2.74 $2.74

36.13%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.96 $1.96

$2.43 $2.43

-19.34%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.91 $1.91

$2.7 $2.7

-29.26%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.48 $10.48

$15.19 $15.19

-31.01%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.28 $14.28

$16.42 $16.42

-13.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 $1.68

$2.35 $2.35

-28.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.44 $4.44

$3.7 $3.7

20.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.02 $2.02

$2.53 $2.53

-20.16%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$123 $123

$74.1 $74.1

65.51%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.02 $5.02

$3.34 $3.34

50.30%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.38 $1.38

$1.42 $1.42

-2.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.43 $29.43

$25.42 $25.42

15.77%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.82 $0.82

$1.08 $1.08

-24.07%

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

$35.5K $35.5K

$32.4K $32.4K

9.65%

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

$25.4K $25.4K

$26.2K $26.2K

-2.94%

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

$218 $218

$188 $188

15.92%

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

$48.48 $48.48

$63.7 $63.7

-23.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$71.4 $71.4

$65.2 $65.2

9.49%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.1 $75.1

$76.7 $76.7

-2.07%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$49 $49

$13.03 $13.03

276.06%

Cinema Ticket

$10.11 $10.11

$14.93 $14.93

-32.28%

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

$1,014 $1,014

$2,063 $2,063

-50.82%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.1K $30.1K

$39.2K $39.2K

-23.23%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.93 $24.93

$64.3 $64.3

-61.23%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.57 $24.57

$52.4 $52.4

-53.10%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$49.5 $49.5

$95.2 $95.2

-48.01%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$60.4 $60.4

$145 $145

-58.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,060 $1,060

$2,378 $2,378

-55.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$887 $887

$1,584 $1,584

-44.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,154 $2,154

$4,763 $4,763

-54.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,871 $1,871

$2,815 $2,815

-33.52%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,627 $2,627

$3,588 $3,588

-26.77%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,629 $2,629

$2,490 $2,490

5.59%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,294 $3,294

$5,275 $5,275

-37.55%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.43

6.6

-2.58%

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

Last update for Alexandria, MN: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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