Cost of Living Comparison Between Arlington, KY and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Arlington, KY and Chicago, IL

🙂 Solo nomad: Arlington, KY is 5.5% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 11.9% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Arlington, KY is 15.8% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 18.7% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Arlington, KY
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.66 $17.66
$20.82 $20.82
-15.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$80.3 $80.3
$100 $100
-19.99%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.92 $9.92
$11.97 $11.97
-17.13%
Cappuccino
$6.03 $6.03
$5.56 $5.56
8.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.96 $2.96
$3.11 $3.11
-4.82%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.51 $2.51
$2.42 $2.42
3.72%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.36 $6.36
$6.86 $6.86
-7.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.84 $7.84
$8.45 $8.45
-7.22%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Arlington, KY
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.71 $0.71
$1.04 $1.04
-31.73%
White Bread (500g)
$4.14 $4.14
$4.15 $4.15
-0.24%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.74 $4.74
$5.52 $5.52
-14.13%
Eggs
$3.92 $3.92
$4.65 $4.65
-15.70%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.14 $12.14
$14.33 $14.33
-15.28%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.68 $15.68
$14.88 $14.88
5.38%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.16 $16.16
$19.34 $19.34
-16.44%
Apples (1kg)
$4.38 $4.38
$5.17 $5.17
-15.28%
Banana (1kg)
$1.47 $1.47
$1.71 $1.71
-14.04%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.78 $4.78
$4.41 $4.41
8.39%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.39 $5.39
$4.51 $4.51
19.51%
Potato (1kg)
$2.01 $2.01
$2.53 $2.53
-20.55%
Onion (1kg)
$2.23 $2.23
$2.74 $2.74
-18.61%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.04 $2.04
$2.43 $2.43
-16.05%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.48 $1.48
$2.7 $2.7
-45.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.78 $8.78
$15.19 $15.19
-42.20%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.63 $15.63
$16.42 $16.42
-4.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.1 $2.1
$2.35 $2.35
-10.64%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.5 $4.5
$3.7 $3.7
21.62%
🚌 Getting Around
Arlington, KY
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.06 $2.06
$2.53 $2.53
-18.58%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$74.1 $74.1
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.86 $4.86
$3.34 $3.34
45.51%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.58 $1.58
$1.42 $1.42
11.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$21.05 $21.05
$25.42 $25.42
-17.19%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.79 $0.79
$1.08 $1.08
-26.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$32.4K $32.4K
-0.05%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.9K $26.9K
$26.2K $26.2K
2.54%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Arlington, KY
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$203 $203
$188 $188
7.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$69.3 $69.3
$63.7 $63.7
8.71%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$71.4 $71.4
$65.2 $65.2
9.51%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Arlington, KY
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.51 $43.51
$76.7 $76.7
-43.29%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.1 $15.1
$14.93 $14.93
1.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Arlington, KY
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,262 $1,262
$2,063 $2,063
-38.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$30.8K $30.8K
$39.2K $39.2K
-21.46%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Arlington, KY
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60 $60
$64.3 $64.3
-6.66%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.81 $48.81
$52.4 $52.4
-6.83%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$93.6 $93.6
$95.2 $95.2
-1.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$133 $133
$145 $145
-7.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Arlington, KY
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,574 $1,574
$2,378 $2,378
-33.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,371 $1,371
$1,584 $1,584
-13.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,593 $2,593
$4,763 $4,763
-45.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,251 $2,251
$2,815 $2,815
-20.04%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,697 $2,697
$3,588 $3,588
-24.82%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,123 $2,123
$2,490 $2,490
-14.76%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Arlington, KY
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,967 $5,967
$5,275 $5,275
13.11%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.52
6.6
-1.21%

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

Last update for Arlington, KY: October 26, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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