Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Apple Valley, MN and Chicago, IL

For one person, living is cheaper in Apple Valley, MN: $2,554 a month against $3,037 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $5,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

123

Cost of Living Index in Apple Valley, MN
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Apple Valley, MN Living Index
147

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

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Apple Valley, MN

🇺🇸 United States

$2,554

/mo nomad

Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,037

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Apple Valley, 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 Apple Valley, MN and in Chicago, IL actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,554 per month in Apple Valley, MN vs $3,037 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Apple Valley, MN $2,554
Chicago, IL $3,037

A couple spends around $3,751 per month in Apple Valley, MN vs $4,518 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Apple Valley, MN $3,751
Chicago, IL $4,518

A family of three spends $4,949 per month in Apple Valley, MN vs $5,999 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Apple Valley, MN $4,949
Chicago, IL $5,999

Apple Valley, MN is about 16% cheaper than Chicago, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both Apple Valley, MN and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – Apple Valley, MN by 88%, Chicago, IL by 123%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.64 $19.64

$20.71 $20.71

-5.17%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.5 $74.5

$89.2 $89.2

-16.56%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.94 $10.94

$13.19 $13.19

-17.06%

Cappuccino

$6.06 $6.06

$5.66 $5.66

7.07%

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

$2.78 $2.78

$2.64 $2.64

5.30%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 $2.32

$2.28 $2.28

1.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.91 $6.91

$6.87 $6.87

0.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.12 $8.12

$8.84 $8.84

-8.14%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.89 $0.89

$1.25 $1.25

-28.80%

White Bread (500g)

$3.14 $3.14

$3.72 $3.72

-15.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.79 $3.79

$5.39 $5.39

-29.68%

Eggs

$3.73 $3.73

$4.74 $4.74

-21.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.25 $10.25

$13.84 $13.84

-25.94%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.22 $12.22

$14.40 $14.40

-15.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.16 $19.16

$18.38 $18.38

4.24%

Apples (1kg)

$5.87 $5.87

$5.22 $5.22

12.45%

Banana (1kg)

$1.53 $1.53

$1.98 $1.98

-22.73%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.29 $4.29

$4.06 $4.06

5.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.09 $5.09

$4.97 $4.97

2.41%

Potato (1kg)

$2.15 $2.15

$2.67 $2.67

-19.48%

Onion (1kg)

$3.71 $3.71

$2.66 $2.66

39.47%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.31 $2.31

$2.24 $2.24

3.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.66 $2.66

$3.13 $3.13

-15.02%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.83 $12.83

$13.82 $13.82

-7.16%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.07 $15.07

$14.88 $14.88

1.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 $1.78

$2.54 $2.54

-29.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.92 $2.92

$3.51 $3.51

-16.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.80 $1.80

$2.43 $2.43

-25.93%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.5 $54.5

$73.5 $73.5

-25.88%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.98 $4.98

$3.18 $3.18

56.60%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.74 $1.74

$1.39 $1.39

25.18%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.12 $24.12

$25.03 $25.03

-3.64%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.06 $1.06

$1.20 $1.20

-11.67%

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

$27.7K $27.7K

$35.0K $35.0K

-20.85%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

$26.7K $26.7K

-4.40%

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

$171 $171

$194 $194

-12.30%

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

$50.1 $50.1

$69.5 $69.5

-27.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$58.5 $58.5

$61.6 $61.6

-5.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.12 $40.12

$47.90 $47.90

-16.24%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.34 $27.34

Cinema Ticket

$13.83 $13.83

$17.81 $17.81

-22.35%

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

$1,328 $1,328

$1,794 $1,794

-25.98%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$36.9K $36.9K

$31.9K $31.9K

15.39%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.0 $57.0

$67.0 $67.0

-15.01%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.61 $43.61

$52.1 $52.1

-16.36%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.3 $72.3

$102 $102

-28.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$85.2 $85.2

$144 $144

-40.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,654 $1,654

$2,526 $2,526

-34.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,281 $1,281

$1,578 $1,578

-18.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,171 $2,171

$4,738 $4,738

-54.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,105 $2,105

$2,693 $2,693

-21.82%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,951 $2,951

$4,190 $4,190

-29.57%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,458 $2,458

$2,768 $2,768

-11.18%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,931 $4,931

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.61

6.81

-2.94%

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

Last update for Apple Valley, MN: October 24, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Apple Valley, MN

$1.3K 50.2%

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52% 23.2% $297

Groceries & Markets

Apple Valley, MN

$401 15.7%

Chicago, IL

$447 14.7% 11.7% $47

Eating Out

Apple Valley, MN

$334 13.1%

Chicago, IL

$345 11.4% 3.3% $11

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Apple Valley, MN

$279 10.9%

Chicago, IL

$326 10.7% 16.6% $46

Clothing & Footwear

Apple Valley, MN

$116 4.6%

Chicago, IL

$164 5.4% 41.2% $48

Getting Around

Apple Valley, MN

$75 3%

Chicago, IL

$93 3.1% 23.9% $18

Sport & Entertainment

Apple Valley, MN

$68 2.7%

Chicago, IL

$84 2.8% 23.2% $16

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,654 in Apple Valley, MN versus $2,526 in Chicago, IL. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $74 in Apple Valley, MN versus $89 in Chicago, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $401 vs $447 – making Apple Valley, MN the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Apple Valley, MN

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🕒 Local time

00:11 12:11 AM

Same time as Apple Valley, MN

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

50,109

2,746,388

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.896 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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Between locations

Apple Valley, MN Chicago, IL 550 km ≈ 1 h 15 min nonstop flight

From you

Apple Valley, 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

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

Monthly costs with rent: $2,554 in Apple Valley, MN, $3,037 in Chicago, IL – Apple Valley, MN comes out roughly 16% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in clothing.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,831 per month in Apple Valley, MN and $4,555 in Chicago, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Apple Valley, MN, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,654 there versus $2,526 in Chicago, IL.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,554 in Apple Valley, MN and $3,037 in Chicago, IL. That makes Apple Valley, MN about 16% cheaper.

Public transport costs about 26% less in Apple Valley, MN. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Apple Valley, MN, where all-in costs run around $2,554, than in Chicago, IL at $3,037. In Apple Valley, MN it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chicago, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Apple Valley, MN – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

For expats, Apple Valley, MN is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and overall it costs about 16% less, which matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.