Cost of Living Comparison Between Boise, ID and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Boise, ID and Chicago, IL

🙂 Solo nomad: Boise, ID is 14.6% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 13.9% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Boise, ID is 17.6% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 24.1% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.82 $19.82

$20.82 $20.82

-4.80%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$63.9 $63.9

$100 $100

-36.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.19 $11.19

$11.97 $11.97

-6.52%

Cappuccino

$6.52 $6.52

$5.56 $5.56

17.27%

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

$2.56 $2.56

$3.11 $3.11

-17.68%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$2.42 $2.42

-9.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.91 $6.91

$6.86 $6.86

0.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.19 $7.19

$8.45 $8.45

-14.91%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.86 $0.86

$1.04 $1.04

-17.31%

White Bread (500g)

$3.55 $3.55

$4.15 $4.15

-14.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.21 $5.21

$5.52 $5.52

-5.62%

Eggs

$3.91 $3.91

$4.65 $4.65

-15.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.95 $12.95

$14.33 $14.33

-9.63%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.51 $8.51

$14.88 $14.88

-42.81%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.31 $13.31

$19.34 $19.34

-31.18%

Apples (1kg)

$4.93 $4.93

$5.17 $5.17

-4.64%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 $1.61

$1.71 $1.71

-5.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.63 $3.63

$4.41 $4.41

-17.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.95 $4.95

$4.51 $4.51

9.76%

Potato (1kg)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.53 $2.53

-4.35%

Onion (1kg)

$2.18 $2.18

$2.74 $2.74

-20.44%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.97 $1.97

$2.43 $2.43

-18.93%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$2.7 $2.7

-19.63%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.44 $8.44

$15.19 $15.19

-44.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.76 $14.76

$16.42 $16.42

-10.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 $1.83

$2.35 $2.35

-22.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$3.7 $3.7

-31.62%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.46 $1.46

$2.53 $2.53

-42.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.14 $42.14

$74.1 $74.1

-43.15%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.64 $2.64

$3.34 $3.34

-20.96%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.47 $1.47

$1.42 $1.42

3.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$23.97 $23.97

$25.42 $25.42

-5.70%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 $0.94

$1.08 $1.08

-12.96%

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

$34.1K $34.1K

$32.4K $32.4K

5.14%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

$26.2K $26.2K

-2.64%

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

$135 $135

$188 $188

-28.36%

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

$49.59 $49.59

$63.7 $63.7

-22.15%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$71.2 $71.2

$65.2 $65.2

9.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.18 $39.18

$76.7 $76.7

-48.93%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$37.03 $37.03

$13.03 $13.03

184.19%

Cinema Ticket

$12.31 $12.31

$14.93 $14.93

-17.55%

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

$1,220 $1,220

$2,063 $2,063

-40.83%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.3K $23.3K

$39.2K $39.2K

-40.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60 $60

$64.3 $64.3

-6.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.14 $34.14

$52.4 $52.4

-34.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.1 $90.1

$95.2 $95.2

-5.37%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$97.3 $97.3

$145 $145

-32.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,604 $1,604

$2,378 $2,378

-32.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,344 $1,344

$1,584 $1,584

-15.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,459 $2,459

$4,763 $4,763

-48.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,976 $1,976

$2,815 $2,815

-29.81%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,443 $3,443

$3,588 $3,588

-4.04%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,102 $3,102

$2,490 $2,490

24.57%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,270 $4,270

$5,275 $5,275

-19.06%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.58

6.6

-0.30%

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

Last update for Boise, ID: October 27, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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