Cost of Living Comparison Between Alton, IL and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Alton, IL and Chicago, IL

πŸ™‚ Solo nomad: Alton, IL is 7.6% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 13.1% cheaper with rent.
πŸ™‚ Family of 3: Alton, IL is 17.6% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 17.6% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Alton, IL
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.46 $19.46
$20.82 $20.82
-6.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$67.5 $67.5
$100 $100
-32.77%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.85 $11.85
$11.97 $11.97
-1.00%
Cappuccino
$5.11 $5.11
$5.56 $5.56
-8.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.21 $2.21
$3.11 $3.11
-28.94%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86 $1.86
$2.42 $2.42
-23.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.86 $4.86
$6.86 $6.86
-29.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.4 $6.4
$8.45 $8.45
-24.26%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Alton, IL
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.84 $0.84
$1.04 $1.04
-19.23%
White Bread (500g)
$2.53 $2.53
$4.15 $4.15
-39.04%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$6.32 $6.32
$5.52 $5.52
14.49%
Eggs
$3.63 $3.63
$4.65 $4.65
-21.94%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.67 $7.67
$14.33 $14.33
-46.48%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.83 $7.83
$14.88 $14.88
-47.38%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.89 $19.89
$19.34 $19.34
2.84%
Apples (1kg)
$6.87 $6.87
$5.17 $5.17
32.88%
Banana (1kg)
$2.55 $2.55
$1.71 $1.71
49.12%
Oranges (1kg)
$7.18 $7.18
$4.41 $4.41
62.81%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.99 $4.99
$4.51 $4.51
10.64%
Potato (1kg)
$5.26 $5.26
$2.53 $2.53
107.91%
Onion (1kg)
$4.46 $4.46
$2.74 $2.74
62.77%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.03 $2.03
$2.43 $2.43
-16.46%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.5 $2.5
$2.7 $2.7
-7.41%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.9 $6.9
$15.19 $15.19
-54.58%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.09 $12.09
$16.42 $16.42
-26.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.85 $1.85
$2.35 $2.35
-21.28%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.99 $3.99
$3.7 $3.7
7.84%
🚌 Getting Around
Alton, IL
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.96 $1.96
$2.53 $2.53
-22.53%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$74.1 $74.1
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.07 $3.07
$3.34 $3.34
-8.08%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.6 $1.6
$1.42 $1.42
12.68%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.03 $29.03
$25.42 $25.42
14.20%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.86 $0.86
$1.08 $1.08
-20.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.1K $30.1K
$32.4K $32.4K
-7.26%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.4K $25.4K
$26.2K $26.2K
-3.10%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Alton, IL
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$246 $246
$188 $188
30.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$49.09 $49.09
$63.7 $63.7
-22.94%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$62.5 $62.5
$65.2 $65.2
-4.10%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Alton, IL
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.61 $43.61
$76.7 $76.7
-43.16%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.85 $11.85
$14.93 $14.93
-20.63%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Alton, IL
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,317 $1,317
$2,063 $2,063
-36.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23K $23K
$39.2K $39.2K
-41.18%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Alton, IL
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.8 $55.8
$64.3 $64.3
-13.22%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.58 $43.58
$52.4 $52.4
-16.82%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$73.9 $73.9
$95.2 $95.2
-22.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$194 $194
$145 $145
34.00%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Alton, IL
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,580 $1,580
$2,378 $2,378
-33.55%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,371 $1,371
$1,584 $1,584
-13.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,632 $2,632
$4,763 $4,763
-44.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,230 $2,230
$2,815 $2,815
-20.78%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,277 $1,277
$3,588 $3,588
-64.42%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,700 $2,700
$2,490 $2,490
8.43%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Alton, IL
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,534 $4,534
$5,275 $5,275
-14.04%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.56
6.6
-0.61%

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

Last update for Alton, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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