Cost of Living Comparison Between Cedar Rapids, IA and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Cedar Rapids, IA and Chicago, IL

🙂 Solo nomad: Cedar Rapids, IA is 1.8% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 33.7% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Cedar Rapids, IA is 20.2% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 34.4% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.06 $15.06

$20.82 $20.82

-27.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$69.9 $69.9

$100 $100

-30.39%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.68 $10.68

$11.97 $11.97

-10.78%

Cappuccino

$5.24 $5.24

$5.56 $5.56

-5.76%

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

$1.87 $1.87

$3.11 $3.11

-39.87%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.47 $1.47

$2.42 $2.42

-39.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.38 $4.38

$6.86 $6.86

-36.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.9 $5.9

$8.45 $8.45

-30.18%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.86 $0.86

$1.04 $1.04

-17.31%

White Bread (500g)

$2.81 $2.81

$4.15 $4.15

-32.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.62 $4.62

$5.52 $5.52

-16.30%

Eggs

$3.11 $3.11

$4.65 $4.65

-33.12%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.84 $13.84

$14.33 $14.33

-3.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.99 $10.99

$14.88 $14.88

-26.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.11 $16.11

$19.34 $19.34

-16.70%

Apples (1kg)

$4.37 $4.37

$5.17 $5.17

-15.47%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 $1.21

$1.71 $1.71

-29.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$4.41 $4.41

22.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.55 $4.55

$4.51 $4.51

0.89%

Potato (1kg)

$2.6 $2.6

$2.53 $2.53

2.77%

Onion (1kg)

$2.33 $2.33

$2.74 $2.74

-14.96%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 $2.04

$2.43 $2.43

-16.05%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.95 $1.95

$2.7 $2.7

-27.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.43 $9.43

$15.19 $15.19

-37.92%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.09 $11.09

$16.42 $16.42

-32.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$2.35 $2.35

-7.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.36 $3.36

$3.7 $3.7

-9.19%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.72 $1.72

$2.53 $2.53

-32.02%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.58 $29.58

$74.1 $74.1

-60.10%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.6 $3.6

$3.34 $3.34

7.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.84 $1.84

$1.42 $1.42

29.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.03 $42.03

$25.42 $25.42

65.34%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.77 $0.77

$1.08 $1.08

-28.70%

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

$24.8K $24.8K

$32.4K $32.4K

-23.63%

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

$25.2K $25.2K

$26.2K $26.2K

-3.99%

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

$208 $208

$188 $188

10.39%

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

$51.1 $51.1

$63.7 $63.7

-19.78%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$70.4 $70.4

$65.2 $65.2

7.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$99.5 $99.5

$76.7 $76.7

29.68%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$12.82 $12.82

$14.93 $14.93

-14.13%

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

$975 $975

$2,063 $2,063

-52.72%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.7K $24.7K

$39.2K $39.2K

-36.83%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.5 $61.5

$64.3 $64.3

-4.37%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.57 $48.57

$52.4 $52.4

-7.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 $103

$95.2 $95.2

7.88%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$130 $130

$145 $145

-9.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,120 $1,120

$2,378 $2,378

-52.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$749 $749

$1,584 $1,584

-52.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,765 $1,765

$4,763 $4,763

-62.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,222 $1,222

$2,815 $2,815

-56.60%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,533 $1,533

$3,588 $3,588

-57.27%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,568 $1,568

$2,490 $2,490

-37.04%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,778 $3,778

$5,275 $5,275

-28.39%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.49

6.6

-1.67%

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

Last update for Cedar Rapids, IA: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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