Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Alexandria, MN: $2,163 a month against $3,139 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $11,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

104

Cost of Living Index in Alexandria, MN
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Alexandria, MN Living Index
152

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
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Chicago, IL Living Index

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Alexandria, MN

🇺🇸 United States

$2,163

/mo nomad

Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,139

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Alexandria, MN and in Chicago, IL

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Alexandria, MN and in Chicago, IL actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,163 in Alexandria, MN versus $3,139 in Chicago, IL.

Alexandria, MN $2,163
Chicago, IL $3,139

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,319 in Alexandria, MN versus $4,627 in Chicago, IL.

Alexandria, MN $3,319
Chicago, IL $4,627

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,476 in Alexandria, MN versus $6,115 in Chicago, IL.

Alexandria, MN $4,476
Chicago, IL $6,115

Living in Alexandria, MN costs roughly 31% less than in Chicago, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Alexandria, MN 60% above, Chicago, IL 132% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.29 $15.29

$20.65 $20.65

-25.96%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$59.4 $59.4

$90.2 $90.2

-34.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.91 $9.91

$12.94 $12.94

-23.42%

Cappuccino

$5.17 $5.17

$5.60 $5.60

-7.68%

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

$2.01 $2.01

$2.64 $2.64

-23.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.01 $2.01

$2.27 $2.27

-11.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.34 $5.34

$6.98 $6.98

-23.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.35 $7.35

$8.83 $8.83

-16.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.90 $0.90

$1.27 $1.27

-29.13%

White Bread (500g)

$3.23 $3.23

$3.80 $3.80

-15.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.41 $3.41

$5.30 $5.30

-35.66%

Eggs

$3.06 $3.06

$4.76 $4.76

-35.71%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.78 $9.78

$13.96 $13.96

-29.94%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.38 $9.38

$14.61 $14.61

-35.80%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.19 $13.19

$18.77 $18.77

-29.73%

Apples (1kg)

$4.98 $4.98

$5.19 $5.19

-4.05%

Banana (1kg)

$1.12 $1.12

$1.98 $1.98

-43.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.21 $6.21

$3.93 $3.93

58.02%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.10 $5.10

$4.96 $4.96

2.82%

Potato (1kg)

$3.92 $3.92

$2.76 $2.76

42.03%

Onion (1kg)

$3.45 $3.45

$2.76 $2.76

25.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.98 $1.98

$2.22 $2.22

-10.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 $1.76

$2.98 $2.98

-40.94%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.13 $13.13

$14.02 $14.02

-6.35%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.66 $14.66

$15.28 $15.28

-4.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.72 $1.72

$2.58 $2.58

-33.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.53 $3.53

$3.50 $3.50

0.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.47 $2.47

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$125 $125

$74.8 $74.8

67.28%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.56 $2.56

$3.34 $3.34

-23.35%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.61 $1.61

$1.43 $1.43

12.59%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.89 $30.89

$24.32 $24.32

27.01%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.02 $1.02

$1.26 $1.26

-19.05%

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

$27.2K $27.2K

$35.0K $35.0K

-22.29%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$26.1K $26.1K

-1.38%

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

$230 $230

$193 $193

19.28%

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

$50.8 $50.8

$68.3 $68.3

-25.52%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$64.6 $64.6

$61.3 $61.3

5.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.6 $75.6

$54.1 $54.1

39.73%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$49.63 $49.63

$27.92 $27.92

77.76%

Cinema Ticket

$9.86 $9.86

$17.74 $17.74

-44.42%

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

$1,009 $1,009

$1,652 $1,652

-38.94%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$27.6K $27.6K

$31.1K $31.1K

-11.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.63 $24.63

$66.1 $66.1

-62.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.54 $24.54

$51.2 $51.2

-52.11%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$49.14 $49.14

$100 $100

-50.92%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$59.3 $59.3

$141 $141

-57.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,128 $1,128

$2,446 $2,446

-53.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$887 $887

$1,678 $1,678

-47.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,091 $2,091

$4,717 $4,717

-55.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,749 $1,749

$2,795 $2,795

-37.44%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,843 $2,843

$4,105 $4,105

-30.74%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,764 $2,764

$2,650 $2,650

4.31%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,362 $3,362

$4,866 $4,866

-30.91%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.31

6.81

-7.34%

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

Last update for Alexandria, MN: October 19, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Alexandria, MN

$887 41%

Chicago, IL

$1.7K 53.5% 89.1% $791

Groceries & Markets

Alexandria, MN

$358 16.5%

Chicago, IL

$449 14.3% 25.7% $92

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Alexandria, MN

$345 16%

Chicago, IL

$322 10.3% 6.7% $23

Eating Out

Alexandria, MN

$272 12.6%

Chicago, IL

$343 10.9% 26.5% $72

Getting Around

Alexandria, MN

$136 * 6.3%

Chicago, IL

$95 3% 29.9% $41

Sport & Entertainment

Alexandria, MN

$95 4.4%

Chicago, IL

$90 2.9% 6% $5.7

Clothing & Footwear

Alexandria, MN

$71 3.3%

Chicago, IL

$161 5.1% 127% $90

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,128 in Alexandria, MN and $2,446 in Chicago, IL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chicago, IL pays 45% 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: $59.0 in Alexandria, MN vs $90.0 in Chicago, IL for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $358 vs $449 per month, with Alexandria, MN cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Alexandria, MN

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🕒 Local time

00:42 12:42 AM

Same time as Alexandria, MN

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

160,035

2,746,388

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

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Highest

Between locations

Alexandria, MN Chicago, IL 760 km ≈ 1 h 30 min nonstop flight

From you

Alexandria, MN
Chicago, IL

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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

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

Alexandria, MN wins on cost – living expenses run 45% lower than in Chicago, IL. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Alexandria, MN the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 45% lower in Chicago, IL. 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: $1,128 in Alexandria, MN versus $2,446 in Chicago, IL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,009 in Alexandria, MN versus $1,652 in Chicago, IL. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Supermarket bills run roughly 26% higher in Chicago, IL. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

At $2,163 in Alexandria, MN versus $3,139 in Chicago, IL, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Alexandria, MN but tight or insufficient in Chicago, IL. The gap between the two cities makes Alexandria, MN the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Alexandria, MN delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,163 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Alexandria, MN hard to pass up.

Expats usually find Alexandria, MN gentler on the wallet – expenses run 45% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.