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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,735 in Carbondale, IL versus $3,106 in Chicago, IL.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,098 in Carbondale, IL versus $4,599 in Chicago, IL.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,461 in Carbondale, IL versus $6,092 in Chicago, IL.

Living in Carbondale, IL costs roughly 44% less than in Chicago, IL, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Carbondale, IL 26% above, Chicago, IL 126% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.18 $18.18

$19.86 $19.86

-8.46%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.36 $38.36

$88.3 $88.3

-56.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.99 $8.99

$13.23 $13.23

-32.05%

Cappuccino

$5.08 $5.08

$5.86 $5.86

-13.31%

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

$2.30 $2.30

$2.61 $2.61

-11.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 $2.05

$2.32 $2.32

-11.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.55 $4.55

$7.03 $7.03

-35.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.82 $7.82

$9.25 $9.25

-15.46%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.96 $0.96

$1.34 $1.34

-28.36%

White Bread (500g)

$3.09 $3.09

$4.19 $4.19

-26.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.11 $4.11

$5.50 $5.50

-25.27%

Eggs

$3.45 $3.45

$4.71 $4.71

-26.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.29 $11.29

$14.72 $14.72

-23.30%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.41 $11.41

$14.53 $14.53

-21.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.17 $18.17

$19.69 $19.69

-7.72%

Apples (1kg)

$4.60 $4.60

$5.64 $5.64

-18.44%

Banana (1kg)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.97 $1.97

-12.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.72 $4.72

$4.04 $4.04

16.83%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.86 $4.86

$5.07 $5.07

-4.14%

Potato (1kg)

$1.63 $1.63

$2.94 $2.94

-44.56%

Onion (1kg)

$2.39 $2.39

$2.92 $2.92

-18.15%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.59 $2.59

$2.28 $2.28

13.60%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.38 $2.38

$3.12 $3.12

-23.72%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.56 $8.56

$16.19 $16.19

-47.13%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.38 $13.38

$15.17 $15.17

-11.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 $1.76

$2.67 $2.67

-34.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.60 $1.60

$3.48 $3.48

-54.02%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.54 $2.54

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$76.0 $76.0

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.06 $2.06

$3.16 $3.16

-34.81%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 $1.34

$1.37 $1.37

-2.19%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$19.82 $19.82

$22.66 $22.66

-12.53%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.00 $1.00

$1.20 $1.20

-16.67%

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

$37.3K $37.3K

$37.0K $37.0K

0.78%

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

$26.8K $26.8K

$26.0K $26.0K

2.92%

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

$169 $169

$190 $190

-10.71%

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

$85.5 $85.5

$68.5 $68.5

24.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$73.9 $73.9

$61.1 $61.1

21.05%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.8 $63.8

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.80 $27.80

Cinema Ticket

$12.19 $12.19

$18.28 $18.28

-33.32%

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

$1,710 $1,710

$1,525 $1,525

12.17%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$26.9K $26.9K

$32.0K $32.0K

-15.86%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$43.80 $43.80

$64.0 $64.0

-31.58%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.60 $32.60

$54.4 $54.4

-40.07%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.1 $78.1

$101 $101

-22.36%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$153 $153

-6.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$663 $663

$2,421 $2,421

-72.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$556 $556

$1,690 $1,690

-67.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,584 $4,584

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,782 $2,782

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$834 $834

$4,170 $4,170

-80.01%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$839 $839

$2,739 $2,739

-69.38%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,757 $3,757

$4,777 $4,777

-21.37%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.06

6.38

-5.02%

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

Last update for Carbondale, IL: September 1, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $663 in Carbondale, IL and $2,421 in Chicago, IL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chicago, IL pays 27% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $38.00 in Carbondale, IL vs $88.0 in Chicago, IL for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $380 vs $465 per month, with Carbondale, IL cheaper across the board.

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

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

Carbondale, IL wins on cost – living expenses run 79% lower than in Chicago, IL. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Carbondale, IL the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 27% lower in Chicago, IL. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $663 in Carbondale, IL versus $2,421 in Chicago, IL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 22% higher in Chicago, IL. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,735 per month in Carbondale, IL versus $3,106 in Chicago, IL – a 79% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,735 in Carbondale, IL versus $3,106 in Chicago, IL, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Carbondale, IL but tight or insufficient in Chicago, IL. The gap between the two cities makes Carbondale, IL the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Carbondale, IL delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,735 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Carbondale, IL hard to pass up.

Expats usually find Carbondale, IL gentler on the wallet – expenses run 79% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.