Cost of Living Comparison Between Ames, IA and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Ames, IA and Chicago, IL

🙂 Solo nomad: Ames, IA is 8.1% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 31.2% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Ames, IA is 21.5% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 32% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.07 $18.07

$20.82 $20.82

-13.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.34 $44.34

$100 $100

-55.81%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.04 $9.04

$11.97 $11.97

-24.48%

Cappuccino

$5.27 $5.27

$5.56 $5.56

-5.22%

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

$1.95 $1.95

$3.11 $3.11

-37.30%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.74 $1.74

$2.42 $2.42

-28.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.99 $2.99

$6.86 $6.86

-56.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.94 $6.94

$8.45 $8.45

-17.87%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.01 $1.01

$1.04 $1.04

-2.88%

White Bread (500g)

$3.65 $3.65

$4.15 $4.15

-12.05%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.11 $3.11

$5.52 $5.52

-43.66%

Eggs

$3.29 $3.29

$4.65 $4.65

-29.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.44 $9.44

$14.33 $14.33

-34.12%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.6 $11.6

$14.88 $14.88

-22.04%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.09 $14.09

$19.34 $19.34

-27.15%

Apples (1kg)

$5.09 $5.09

$5.17 $5.17

-1.55%

Banana (1kg)

$1.15 $1.15

$1.71 $1.71

-32.75%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.79 $5.79

$4.41 $4.41

31.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.1 $5.1

$4.51 $4.51

13.08%

Potato (1kg)

$3.76 $3.76

$2.53 $2.53

48.62%

Onion (1kg)

$3.75 $3.75

$2.74 $2.74

36.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.99 $1.99

$2.43 $2.43

-18.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.97 $1.97

$2.7 $2.7

-27.04%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9 $9

$15.19 $15.19

-40.75%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.23 $16.23

$16.42 $16.42

-1.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 $1.71

$2.35 $2.35

-27.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.38 $4.38

$3.7 $3.7

18.38%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.49 $1.49

$2.53 $2.53

-41.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$47.13 $47.13

$74.1 $74.1

-36.42%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.9 $4.9

$3.34 $3.34

46.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.39 $1.39

$1.42 $1.42

-2.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$49.16 $49.16

$25.42 $25.42

93.39%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.8 $0.8

$1.08 $1.08

-25.93%

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

$24.7K $24.7K

$32.4K $32.4K

-23.81%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

$26.2K $26.2K

-2.65%

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

$189 $189

$188 $188

0.43%

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

$48.48 $48.48

$63.7 $63.7

-23.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.3 $74.3

$65.2 $65.2

13.93%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$68.5 $68.5

$76.7 $76.7

-10.71%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.74 $19.74

$13.03 $13.03

51.50%

Cinema Ticket

$13.9 $13.9

$14.93 $14.93

-6.90%

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

$1,470 $1,470

$2,063 $2,063

-28.72%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.2K $30.2K

$39.2K $39.2K

-22.91%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$38.64 $38.64

$64.3 $64.3

-39.92%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.65 $42.65

$52.4 $52.4

-18.59%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.4 $84.4

$95.2 $95.2

-11.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$116 $116

$145 $145

-20.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$989 $989

$2,378 $2,378

-58.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$837 $837

$1,584 $1,584

-47.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,931 $1,931

$4,763 $4,763

-59.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,676 $1,676

$2,815 $2,815

-40.45%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,346 $2,346

$3,588 $3,588

-34.63%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,182 $2,182

$2,490 $2,490

-12.39%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,732 $3,732

$5,275 $5,275

-29.25%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.02

6.6

-8.79%

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

Last update for Ames, IA: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Similar cities

Austin, TX

🇺🇸 United States

Berlin

🇩🇪 Germany

Dubai

🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates

Melbourne

🇦🇺 Australia

Munich

🇩🇪 Germany

Montreal

🇨🇦 Canada

Vienna

🇦🇹 Austria

Sydney

🇦🇺 Australia