Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, MN and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, MN and Chicago, IL

🙂 Solo nomad: Austin, MN is 33.8% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 19.6% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Austin, MN is 24.6% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 24.1% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.71 $15.71

$20.82 $20.82

-24.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$90.7 $90.7

$100 $100

-9.64%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.93 $11.93

$11.97 $11.97

-0.33%

Cappuccino

$5.1 $5.1

$5.56 $5.56

-8.27%

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

$2.65 $2.65

$3.11 $3.11

-14.79%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 $2.05

$2.42 $2.42

-15.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.87 $4.87

$6.86 $6.86

-29.01%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.12 $7.12

$8.45 $8.45

-15.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.82 $0.82

$1.04 $1.04

-21.15%

White Bread (500g)

$2.52 $2.52

$4.15 $4.15

-39.28%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$5.52 $5.52

-64.13%

Eggs

$2.63 $2.63

$4.65 $4.65

-43.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.64 $12.64

$14.33 $14.33

-11.79%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.56 $6.56

$14.88 $14.88

-55.91%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.1 $18.1

$19.34 $19.34

-6.41%

Apples (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$5.17 $5.17

-12.77%

Banana (1kg)

$1.2 $1.2

$1.71 $1.71

-29.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.57 $3.57

$4.41 $4.41

-19.05%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.7 $1.7

$4.51 $4.51

-62.31%

Potato (1kg)

$1.67 $1.67

$2.53 $2.53

-33.99%

Onion (1kg)

$2.9 $2.9

$2.74 $2.74

5.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.49 $1.49

$2.43 $2.43

-38.68%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.96 $1.96

$2.7 $2.7

-27.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.76 $8.76

$15.19 $15.19

-42.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$2.96 $2.96

$16.42 $16.42

-81.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 $1.71

$2.35 $2.35

-27.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.9 $3.9

$3.7 $3.7

5.41%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.04 $2.04

$2.53 $2.53

-19.37%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.96 $1.96

$3.34 $3.34

-41.32%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$19.81 $19.81

$25.42 $25.42

-22.07%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.79 $0.79

$1.08 $1.08

-26.85%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

$32.4K $32.4K

-21.24%

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

$24.4K $24.4K

$26.2K $26.2K

-7.09%

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

$146 $146

$188 $188

-22.47%

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

$50.7 $50.7

$63.7 $63.7

-20.46%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.6 $74.6

$65.2 $65.2

14.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.16 $43.16

$76.7 $76.7

-43.74%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$15.17 $15.17

$14.93 $14.93

1.61%

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

$1,345 $1,345

$2,063 $2,063

-34.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.8K $11.8K

$39.2K $39.2K

-69.97%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.4 $63.4

$64.3 $64.3

-1.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.64 $49.64

$52.4 $52.4

-5.25%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74 $74

$95.2 $95.2

-22.26%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$142 $142

$145 $145

-1.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,624 $1,624

$2,378 $2,378

-31.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,334 $1,334

$1,584 $1,584

-15.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,583 $2,583

$4,763 $4,763

-45.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,182 $2,182

$2,815 $2,815

-22.48%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,965 $2,965

$3,588 $3,588

-17.35%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,356 $2,356

$2,490 $2,490

-5.37%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.61

6.6

0.15%

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

Last update for Austin, MN: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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