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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,013 in Ankeny, IA versus $3,068 in Chicago, IL.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,887 in Ankeny, IA versus $4,648 in Chicago, IL.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,760 in Ankeny, IA versus $6,229 in Chicago, IL.

Living in Ankeny, IA costs roughly 34% less than in Chicago, IL, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Ankeny, IA 51% above, Chicago, IL 130% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.70 $14.70

$20.17 $20.17

-27.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$57.2 $57.2

$99.5 $99.5

-42.47%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.22 $12.22

$12.23 $12.23

-0.08%

Cappuccino

$5.97 $5.97

$5.60 $5.60

6.61%

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

$2.69 $2.69

$3.12 $3.12

-13.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.52 $1.52

$2.43 $2.43

-37.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.05 $5.05

$6.93 $6.93

-27.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.92 $6.92

$8.20 $8.20

-15.61%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.96 $0.96

$1.08 $1.08

-11.11%

White Bread (500g)

$2.44 $2.44

$3.97 $3.97

-38.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.14 $2.14

$5.58 $5.58

-61.65%

Eggs

$3.72 $3.72

$4.47 $4.47

-16.78%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.69 $10.69

$14.50 $14.50

-26.28%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.91 $10.91

$15.08 $15.08

-27.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.63 $14.63

$19.34 $19.34

-24.35%

Apples (1kg)

$4.38 $4.38

$5.37 $5.37

-18.44%

Banana (1kg)

$1.93 $1.93

$1.76 $1.76

9.66%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.59 $4.59

$4.32 $4.32

6.25%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.53 $4.53

$4.41 $4.41

2.72%

Potato (1kg)

$3.43 $3.43

$2.54 $2.54

35.04%

Onion (1kg)

$3.38 $3.38

$2.70 $2.70

25.19%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.02 $1.02

$2.49 $2.49

-59.04%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 $0.72

$2.60 $2.60

-72.31%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.09 $9.09

$14.80 $14.80

-38.58%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.23 $15.23

$15.18 $15.18

0.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 $1.77

$2.47 $2.47

-28.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.37 $3.37

$3.60 $3.60

-6.39%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.96 $1.96

$2.54 $2.54

-22.83%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$76.3 $76.3

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.99 $1.99

$3.30 $3.30

-39.70%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.22 $2.22

$1.38 $1.38

60.87%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$20.36 $20.36

$25.36 $25.36

-19.72%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.83 $0.83

$1.09 $1.09

-23.85%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

$31.6K $31.6K

-19.35%

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

$24.8K $24.8K

$26.6K $26.6K

-6.74%

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

$147 $147

$186 $186

-21.21%

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

$49.76 $49.76

$62.9 $62.9

-20.84%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$64.3 $64.3

$66.2 $66.2

-2.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.48 $42.48

$77.6 $77.6

-45.27%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.16 $13.16

Cinema Ticket

$15.24 $15.24

$14.74 $14.74

3.39%

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

$1,117 $1,117

$2,039 $2,039

-45.22%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.9K $11.9K

$39.9K $39.9K

-70.17%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.57 $49.57

$63.9 $63.9

-22.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.52 $35.52

$51.2 $51.2

-30.58%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.1 $84.1

$95.2 $95.2

-11.61%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$94.4 $94.4

$144 $144

-34.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$932 $932

$2,305 $2,305

-59.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$917 $917

$1,575 $1,575

-41.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,889 $1,889

$4,688 $4,688

-59.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,377 $1,377

$2,737 $2,737

-49.69%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,063 $4,063

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,696 $2,696

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,265 $5,265

$5,019 $5,019

4.90%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.54

6.6

-0.91%

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

Last update for Ankeny, IA: July 14, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $932 in Ankeny, IA and $2,305 in Chicago, IL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ankeny, IA pays 5% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $57.0 in Ankeny, IA vs $99.0 in Chicago, IL for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $338 vs $448 per month, with Ankeny, IA 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

Ankeny, IA vs Chicago, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ankeny, IA and Chicago, IL differ by about 52% in total monthly costs ($2,013 vs $3,068 including rent). Ankeny, IA is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 5% higher in Ankeny, IA, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $932 in Ankeny, IA versus $2,305 in Chicago, IL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 33% higher in Chicago, IL. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $2,013 per month in Ankeny, IA versus $3,068 in Chicago, IL – a 52% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,013 in Ankeny, IA versus $3,068 in Chicago, IL, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Ankeny, IA but tight or insufficient in Chicago, IL. The gap between the two cities makes Ankeny, IA 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, Ankeny, IA 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 Ankeny, IA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 52% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.