Cost of Living Comparison Between Castle Rock, CO and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Castle Rock, CO and Chicago, IL

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,252 in Castle Rock, CO versus $3,106 in Chicago, IL.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,966 in Castle Rock, CO versus $4,599 in Chicago, IL.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,679 in Castle Rock, CO versus $6,092 in Chicago, IL.

Living in Castle Rock, CO costs roughly 60% less than in Chicago, IL, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Castle Rock, CO is 9% below, Chicago, IL is 126% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.91 $17.91

$19.86 $19.86

-9.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$78.5 $78.5

$88.3 $88.3

-11.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.37 $9.37

$13.23 $13.23

-29.18%

Cappuccino

$5.44 $5.44

$5.86 $5.86

-7.17%

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

$2.44 $2.44

$2.61 $2.61

-6.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.89 $1.89

$2.32 $2.32

-18.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.09 $7.09

$7.03 $7.03

0.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.05 $6.05

$9.25 $9.25

-34.59%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.00 $1.00

$1.34 $1.34

-25.37%

White Bread (500g)

$2.98 $2.98

$4.19 $4.19

-28.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.83 $2.83

$5.50 $5.50

-48.55%

Eggs

$4.38 $4.38

$4.71 $4.71

-7.01%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.16 $11.16

$14.72 $14.72

-24.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.28 $10.28

$14.53 $14.53

-29.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.75 $20.75

$19.69 $19.69

5.38%

Apples (1kg)

$5.18 $5.18

$5.64 $5.64

-8.16%

Banana (1kg)

$1.39 $1.39

$1.97 $1.97

-29.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.75 $3.75

$4.04 $4.04

-7.18%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.14 $5.14

$5.07 $5.07

1.38%

Potato (1kg)

$2.87 $2.87

$2.94 $2.94

-2.38%

Onion (1kg)

$3.30 $3.30

$2.92 $2.92

13.01%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.26 $1.26

$2.28 $2.28

-44.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 $1.70

$3.12 $3.12

-45.51%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.11 $10.11

$16.19 $16.19

-37.55%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.09 $12.09

$15.17 $15.17

-20.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.67 $2.67

-3.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.69 $2.69

$3.48 $3.48

-22.70%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.54 $2.54

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$76.0 $76.0

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.51 $2.51

$3.16 $3.16

-20.57%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.83 $1.83

$1.37 $1.37

33.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.10 $25.10

$22.66 $22.66

10.77%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.79 $0.79

$1.20 $1.20

-34.17%

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

$35.1K $35.1K

$37.0K $37.0K

-5.25%

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

$25.2K $25.2K

$26.0K $26.0K

-3.08%

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

$217 $217

$190 $190

14.60%

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

$39.22 $39.22

$68.5 $68.5

-42.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.5 $69.5

$61.1 $61.1

13.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.6 $60.6

$63.8 $63.8

-5.05%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.80 $27.80

Cinema Ticket

$12.22 $12.22

$18.28 $18.28

-33.15%

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

$1,316 $1,316

$1,525 $1,525

-13.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.8K $17.8K

$32.0K $32.0K

-44.42%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.3 $54.3

$64.0 $64.0

-15.12%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.4 $50.4

$54.4 $54.4

-7.28%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.1 $80.1

$101 $101

-20.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$117 $117

$153 $153

-24.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,706 $1,706

$2,421 $2,421

-29.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,690 $1,690

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)

$4,170 $4,170

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,739 $2,739

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,850 $5,850

$4,777 $4,777

22.46%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.08

6.38

-4.70%

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

Last update for Castle Rock, CO: August 30, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,706 in Castle Rock, CO and $2,421 in Chicago, IL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Castle Rock, CO pays 22% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $78.0 in Castle Rock, CO vs $88.0 in Chicago, IL for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $374 vs $465 per month, with Castle Rock, CO 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

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

Castle Rock, CO and Chicago, IL differ by about 148% in total monthly costs ($1,252 vs $3,106 including rent). Castle Rock, CO is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 22% higher in Castle Rock, CO, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,706 in Castle Rock, CO 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 24% higher in Chicago, IL. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,252 per month in Castle Rock, CO versus $3,106 in Chicago, IL – a 148% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Castle Rock, CO is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Castle Rock, CO and Chicago, IL are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Castle Rock, CO gentler on the wallet – expenses run 148% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.