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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,658 in Arlington, KY versus $3,051 in Chicago, IL.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,880 in Arlington, KY versus $4,638 in Chicago, IL.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,102 in Arlington, KY versus $6,224 in Chicago, IL.

Living in Arlington, KY costs roughly 13% less than in Chicago, IL, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Arlington, KY 98% above, Chicago, IL 128% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.08 $18.08

$20.67 $20.67

-12.53%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.5 $80.5

$100 $100

-19.92%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.87 $9.87

$11.86 $11.86

-16.78%

Cappuccino

$6.04 $6.04

$5.54 $5.54

9.03%

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

$2.95 $2.95

$3.06 $3.06

-3.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.40 $2.40

$2.48 $2.48

-3.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.32 $6.32

$6.92 $6.92

-8.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.05 $8.05

$8.13 $8.13

-0.98%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.71 $0.71

$1.04 $1.04

-31.73%

White Bread (500g)

$4.14 $4.14

$3.91 $3.91

5.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.50 $4.50

$5.42 $5.42

-16.97%

Eggs

$3.77 $3.77

$4.48 $4.48

-15.85%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.03 $12.03

$14.52 $14.52

-17.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.38 $15.38

$15.21 $15.21

1.12%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.11 $16.11

$19.25 $19.25

-16.31%

Apples (1kg)

$4.36 $4.36

$5.39 $5.39

-19.11%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 $1.46

$1.69 $1.69

-13.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.80 $4.80

$4.32 $4.32

11.11%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.22 $5.22

$4.51 $4.51

15.74%

Potato (1kg)

$2.03 $2.03

$2.56 $2.56

-20.70%

Onion (1kg)

$2.18 $2.18

$2.70 $2.70

-19.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.03 $2.03

$2.41 $2.41

-15.77%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.52 $1.52

$2.62 $2.62

-41.98%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.98 $8.98

$15.02 $15.02

-40.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.19 $15.19

$14.71 $14.71

3.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.02 $2.02

$2.48 $2.48

-18.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.29 $4.29

$3.69 $3.69

16.26%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.96 $1.96

$2.55 $2.55

-23.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.5 $75.5

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.06 $5.06

$3.29 $3.29

53.80%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.52 $1.52

$1.43 $1.43

6.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$21.29 $21.29

$24.72 $24.72

-13.88%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.80 $0.80

$1.09 $1.09

-26.61%

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

$32.3K $32.3K

$31.8K $31.8K

1.57%

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

$27.0K $27.0K

$26.4K $26.4K

1.98%

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

$203 $203

$183 $183

10.55%

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

$70.2 $70.2

$61.8 $61.8

13.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$72.7 $72.7

$65.0 $65.0

11.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.79 $43.79

$76.1 $76.1

-42.44%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.04 $13.04

Cinema Ticket

$15.05 $15.05

$14.75 $14.75

2.03%

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

$1,263 $1,263

$2,056 $2,056

-38.58%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.8K $30.8K

$38.5K $38.5K

-19.96%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.8 $60.8

$63.9 $63.9

-4.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.01 $49.01

$51.6 $51.6

-5.00%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.5 $91.5

$97.3 $97.3

-5.89%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$134 $134

$147 $147

-8.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,600 $1,600

$2,349 $2,349

-31.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,329 $1,329

$1,581 $1,581

-15.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,653 $2,653

$4,708 $4,708

-43.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,248 $2,248

$2,716 $2,716

-17.21%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,364 $2,364

$3,976 $3,976

-40.54%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,633 $2,633

$2,632 $2,632

0.06%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,930 $5,930

$4,723 $4,723

25.55%

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: April 21, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,600 in Arlington, KY and $2,349 in Chicago, IL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Arlington, KY pays 26% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $80 in Arlington, KY vs $100 in Chicago, IL for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $405 vs $447 per month, with Arlington, KY 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

Arlington, KY vs Chicago, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Arlington, KY and Chicago, IL differ by about 15% in total monthly costs ($2,658 vs $3,051 including rent). Arlington, KY is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Arlington, KY pays 26% more on average, 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: $1,600 in Arlington, KY versus $2,349 in Chicago, IL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 10% higher in Chicago, IL. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $2,658 per month in Arlington, KY versus $3,051 in Chicago, IL – a 15% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Arlington, KY is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

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.

Expats usually find Arlington, KY gentler on the wallet – expenses run 15% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.