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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,049 per month in Centennial, CO vs $3,111 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,290 per month in Centennial, CO vs $4,680 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,532 per month in Centennial, CO vs $6,249 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Centennial, CO is about 2% cheaper than Chicago, IL, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Centennial, CO and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – Centennial, CO by 127%, Chicago, IL by 131%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.62 $19.62

$20.39 $20.39

-3.78%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$92.3 $92.3

$98.2 $98.2

-6.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.85 $12.85

$12.07 $12.07

6.46%

Cappuccino

$6.02 $6.02

$5.73 $5.73

5.06%

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

$2.92 $2.92

$2.97 $2.97

-1.68%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 $1.95

$2.47 $2.47

-21.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.84 $7.84

$6.99 $6.99

12.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.97 $11.97

$8.21 $8.21

45.80%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.13 $1.13

$1.05 $1.05

7.62%

White Bread (500g)

$2.74 $2.74

$4.08 $4.08

-32.84%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.47 $4.47

$5.50 $5.50

-18.73%

Eggs

$6.44 $6.44

$4.64 $4.64

38.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.20 $12.20

$14.40 $14.40

-15.28%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.79 $5.79

$15.20 $15.20

-61.91%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.68 $18.68

$19.28 $19.28

-3.11%

Apples (1kg)

$3.16 $3.16

$5.14 $5.14

-38.52%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 $1.09

$1.76 $1.76

-38.07%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.34 $3.34

$4.34 $4.34

-23.04%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.84 $2.84

$4.36 $4.36

-34.86%

Potato (1kg)

$1.57 $1.57

$2.44 $2.44

-35.66%

Onion (1kg)

$1.87 $1.87

$2.79 $2.79

-32.97%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.51 $2.51

$2.52 $2.52

-0.40%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.98 $1.98

$2.66 $2.66

-25.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.83 $10.83

$14.90 $14.90

-27.32%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.88 $18.88

$14.97 $14.97

26.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 $1.78

$2.45 $2.45

-27.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 $3.34

$3.54 $3.54

-5.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$7.91 $7.91

$2.43 $2.43

225.51%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$86.3 $86.3

$74.5 $74.5

15.82%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.54 $3.54

$3.32 $3.32

6.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.59 $1.59

$1.38 $1.38

15.22%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.04 $29.04

$25.11 $25.11

15.65%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 $0.94

$1.09 $1.09

-13.76%

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

$46.5K $46.5K

$31.9K $31.9K

46.10%

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

$22.1K $22.1K

$26.8K $26.8K

-17.57%

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

$243 $243

$187 $187

29.78%

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

$34.68 $34.68

$63.5 $63.5

-45.34%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$71.7 $71.7

$65.5 $65.5

9.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.60 $49.60

$75.7 $75.7

-34.47%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.05 $13.05

Cinema Ticket

$16.67 $16.67

$14.80 $14.80

12.64%

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

$1,233 $1,233

$2,025 $2,025

-39.09%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$19.7K $19.7K

$39.0K $39.0K

-49.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.7 $52.7

$64.2 $64.2

-17.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.91 $31.91

$51.7 $51.7

-38.31%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.7 $96.7

$95.6 $95.6

1.14%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$84.3 $84.3

$145 $145

-41.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,880 $1,880

$2,326 $2,326

-19.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,620 $1,620

$1,611 $1,611

0.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,186 $3,186

$4,703 $4,703

-32.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,520 $2,520

$2,721 $2,721

-7.38%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,144 $3,144

$3,829 $3,829

-17.88%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,853 $2,853

$2,533 $2,533

12.65%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,795 $6,795

$5,100 $5,100

33.24%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.25

6.6

-20.45%

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

Last update for Centennial, CO: June 7, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,880 in Centennial, CO versus $2,326 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 33% higher in Centennial, CO, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $92.0 in Centennial, CO versus $98.0 in Chicago, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $349 vs $448 – making Centennial, 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

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

Monthly costs with rent: $3,049 in Centennial, CO, $3,111 in Chicago, IL – roughly 2% apart. Chicago, IL costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,573 per month in Centennial, CO and $4,666 in Chicago, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $92.0 in Centennial, CO and $98.0 in Chicago, IL. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,049 in Centennial, CO and $3,111 in Chicago, IL. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,049 in Centennial, CO and $3,111 in Chicago, IL. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $3,049 in Centennial, CO to $3,111 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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