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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,285 per month in Boulder, CO vs $3,051 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,604 per month in Boulder, CO vs $4,638 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,924 per month in Boulder, CO vs $6,224 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Boulder, CO costs about 8% more than Chicago, IL, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Boulder, CO and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – Boulder, CO by 145%, Chicago, IL by 128%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.04 $20.04

$20.67 $20.67

-3.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$68.7 $68.7

$100 $100

-31.59%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.04 $11.04

$11.86 $11.86

-6.91%

Cappuccino

$5.94 $5.94

$5.54 $5.54

7.22%

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

$3.33 $3.33

$3.06 $3.06

8.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.44 $2.44

$2.48 $2.48

-1.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.06 $6.06

$6.92 $6.92

-12.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.98 $6.98

$8.13 $8.13

-14.15%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.03 $1.03

$1.04 $1.04

-0.96%

White Bread (500g)

$3.69 $3.69

$3.91 $3.91

-5.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.49 $4.49

$5.42 $5.42

-17.16%

Eggs

$5.54 $5.54

$4.48 $4.48

23.66%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.29 $13.29

$14.52 $14.52

-8.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.76 $14.76

$15.21 $15.21

-2.96%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.34 $17.34

$19.25 $19.25

-9.92%

Apples (1kg)

$4.36 $4.36

$5.39 $5.39

-19.11%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 $1.44

$1.69 $1.69

-14.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.69 $3.69

$4.32 $4.32

-14.58%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.83 $4.83

$4.51 $4.51

7.10%

Potato (1kg)

$2.70 $2.70

$2.56 $2.56

5.47%

Onion (1kg)

$2.61 $2.61

$2.70 $2.70

-3.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.24 $2.24

$2.41 $2.41

-7.05%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.30 $2.30

$2.62 $2.62

-12.21%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.19 $10.19

$15.02 $15.02

-32.16%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.17 $17.17

$14.71 $14.71

16.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 $1.86

$2.48 $2.48

-25.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.83 $3.83

$3.69 $3.69

3.79%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.55 $2.55

7.45%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$153 $153

$75.5 $75.5

102.23%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.54 $2.54

$3.29 $3.29

-22.80%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.43 $1.43

-0.70%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.34 $24.34

$24.72 $24.72

-1.54%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 $0.81

$1.09 $1.09

-25.69%

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

$26.8K $26.8K

$31.8K $31.8K

-15.52%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$26.4K $26.4K

-1.24%

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

$191 $191

$183 $183

4.32%

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

$60.0 $60.0

$61.8 $61.8

-2.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$72.4 $72.4

$65.0 $65.0

11.24%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.6 $79.6

$76.1 $76.1

4.68%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.39 $20.39

$13.04 $13.04

56.37%

Cinema Ticket

$16.74 $16.74

$14.75 $14.75

13.49%

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

$1,440 $1,440

$2,056 $2,056

-29.98%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.6K $30.6K

$38.5K $38.5K

-20.65%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$73.7 $73.7

$63.9 $63.9

15.20%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.83 $36.83

$51.6 $51.6

-28.61%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.2 $89.2

$97.3 $97.3

-8.25%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$100.0 $100.0

$147 $147

-32.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,122 $2,122

$2,349 $2,349

-9.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,822 $1,822

$1,581 $1,581

15.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,968 $3,968

$4,708 $4,708

-15.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,806 $2,806

$2,716 $2,716

3.32%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,412 $4,412

$3,976 $3,976

10.97%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,514 $4,514

$2,632 $2,632

71.52%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,220 $5,220

$4,723 $4,723

10.52%

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 Boulder, CO: April 21, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,122 in Boulder, CO versus $2,349 in Chicago, IL. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 11% higher in Boulder, CO, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $69 in Boulder, CO versus $100 in Chicago, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $423 vs $447 – making Boulder, CO the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Boulder, CO vs Chicago, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Boulder, CO is pricier by about 8%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,927 per month in Boulder, CO and $4,577 in Chicago, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Chicago, IL, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 6% cheaper in Boulder, CO – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $69.0 in Boulder, CO and $100 in Chicago, IL. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,285 in Boulder, CO and $3,051 in Chicago, IL. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Chicago, IL – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Chicago, IL. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Boulder, CO makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.