Cost of Living Comparison Between Carbondale, IL and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Carbondale, IL and Chicago, IL

🙂 Solo nomad: Carbondale, IL is 32.9% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 21.3% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Carbondale, IL is 31.2% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 26.8% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.71 $16.71

$20.82 $20.82

-19.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$31.36 $31.36

$100 $100

-68.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.93 $7.93

$11.97 $11.97

-33.75%

Cappuccino

$3.06 $3.06

$5.56 $5.56

-44.96%

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

$2.03 $2.03

$3.11 $3.11

-34.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.53 $1.53

$2.42 $2.42

-36.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.61 $4.61

$6.86 $6.86

-32.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.34 $5.34

$8.45 $8.45

-36.80%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.81 $0.81

$1.04 $1.04

-22.12%

White Bread (500g)

$2.89 $2.89

$4.15 $4.15

-30.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.42 $4.42

$5.52 $5.52

-19.93%

Eggs

$4.01 $4.01

$4.65 $4.65

-13.76%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.37 $11.37

$14.33 $14.33

-20.66%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.98 $10.98

$14.88 $14.88

-26.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.63 $15.63

$19.34 $19.34

-19.18%

Apples (1kg)

$6.26 $6.26

$5.17 $5.17

21.08%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 $1.56

$1.71 $1.71

-8.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.25 $5.25

$4.41 $4.41

19.05%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.92 $4.92

$4.51 $4.51

9.09%

Potato (1kg)

$4.96 $4.96

$2.53 $2.53

96.05%

Onion (1kg)

$3.54 $3.54

$2.74 $2.74

29.20%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.33 $2.33

$2.43 $2.43

-4.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.7 $2.7

-10.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.87 $7.87

$15.19 $15.19

-48.19%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.61 $14.61

$16.42 $16.42

-11.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 $1.76

$2.35 $2.35

-25.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.86 $1.86

$3.7 $3.7

-49.73%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.03 $2.03

$2.53 $2.53

-19.76%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.02 $2.02

$3.34 $3.34

-39.52%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 $1.34

$1.42 $1.42

-5.63%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$19.84 $19.84

$25.42 $25.42

-21.95%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.82 $0.82

$1.08 $1.08

-24.07%

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

$33.2K $33.2K

$32.4K $32.4K

2.25%

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

$27.4K $27.4K

$26.2K $26.2K

4.46%

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

$122 $122

$188 $188

-35.25%

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

$58.5 $58.5

$63.7 $63.7

-8.19%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.09 $30.09

$65.2 $65.2

-53.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.3 $43.3

$76.7 $76.7

-43.56%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$13.1 $13.1

$14.93 $14.93

-12.26%

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

$1,584 $1,584

$2,063 $2,063

-23.22%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$27.5K $27.5K

$39.2K $39.2K

-29.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$40.31 $40.31

$64.3 $64.3

-37.32%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.24 $32.24

$52.4 $52.4

-38.46%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.1 $76.1

$95.2 $95.2

-20.08%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$138 $138

$145 $145

-4.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,609 $1,609

$2,378 $2,378

-32.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,347 $1,347

$1,584 $1,584

-14.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,636 $2,636

$4,763 $4,763

-44.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,228 $2,228

$2,815 $2,815

-20.83%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,464 $2,464

$3,588 $3,588

-31.32%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,500 $2,500

$2,490 $2,490

0.40%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,620 $2,620

$5,275 $5,275

-50.34%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.53

6.6

-1.06%

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

Last update for Carbondale, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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