Cost of Living Comparison Between Aspen, CO and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Aspen, CO and Chicago, IL

πŸ™‚ Solo nomad: Aspen, CO is 0.1% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 6.9% cheaper with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Aspen, CO is 14.5% more expensive than Chicago, IL without rent, and 12.2% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Aspen, CO
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.11 $25.11
$20.82 $20.82
20.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.3 $69.3
$100 $100
-30.95%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.21 $11.21
$11.97 $11.97
-6.35%
Cappuccino
$5.67 $5.67
$5.56 $5.56
1.98%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.54 $3.54
$3.11 $3.11
13.83%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83 $2.83
$2.42 $2.42
16.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.05 $8.05
$6.86 $6.86
17.35%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.06 $8.06
$8.45 $8.45
-4.62%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Aspen, CO
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.21 $1.21
$1.04 $1.04
16.35%
White Bread (500g)
$5.49 $5.49
$4.15 $4.15
32.29%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$6.53 $6.53
$5.52 $5.52
18.30%
Eggs
$5.6 $5.6
$4.65 $4.65
20.43%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.14 $13.14
$14.33 $14.33
-8.30%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$16.81 $16.81
$14.88 $14.88
12.97%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.17 $17.17
$19.34 $19.34
-11.22%
Apples (1kg)
$5.3 $5.3
$5.17 $5.17
2.51%
Banana (1kg)
$1.47 $1.47
$1.71 $1.71
-14.04%
Oranges (1kg)
$6.02 $6.02
$4.41 $4.41
36.51%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.16 $6.16
$4.51 $4.51
36.59%
Potato (1kg)
$4.01 $4.01
$2.53 $2.53
58.50%
Onion (1kg)
$3.73 $3.73
$2.74 $2.74
36.13%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.98 $2.98
$2.43 $2.43
22.63%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.62 $2.62
$2.7 $2.7
-2.96%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.83 $11.83
$15.19 $15.19
-22.12%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.83 $16.83
$16.42 $16.42
2.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.91 $1.91
$2.35 $2.35
-18.72%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01 $3.01
$3.7 $3.7
-18.65%
🚌 Getting Around
Aspen, CO
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.6 $3.6
$2.53 $2.53
42.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$74.1 $74.1
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.57 $2.57
$3.34 $3.34
-23.05%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.39 $1.39
$1.42 $1.42
-2.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$24.29 $24.29
$25.42 $25.42
-4.45%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.83 $0.83
$1.08 $1.08
-23.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.1K $35.1K
$32.4K $32.4K
8.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26K $26K
$26.2K $26.2K
-0.84%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Aspen, CO
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$146 $146
$188 $188
-22.62%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$60.4 $60.4
$63.7 $63.7
-5.21%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$72.3 $72.3
$65.2 $65.2
10.95%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Aspen, CO
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$133 $133
$76.7 $76.7
72.98%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$16.18 $16.18
$14.93 $14.93
8.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Aspen, CO
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,428 $1,428
$2,063 $2,063
-30.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$30.2K $30.2K
$39.2K $39.2K
-22.85%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Aspen, CO
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$71.1 $71.1
$64.3 $64.3
10.60%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.4 $49.4
$52.4 $52.4
-5.71%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$92 $92
$95.2 $95.2
-3.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$146 $146
$145 $145
1.25%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Aspen, CO
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,586 $2,586
$2,378 $2,378
8.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,375 $1,375
$1,584 $1,584
-13.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,610 $2,610
$4,763 $4,763
-45.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,188 $2,188
$2,815 $2,815
-22.26%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$10.8K $10.8K
$3,588 $3,588
202.40%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$7,638 $7,638
$2,490 $2,490
206.73%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Aspen, CO
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,947 $2,947
$5,275 $5,275
-44.13%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.42
6.6
-2.73%

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

Last update for Aspen, CO: October 27, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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