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

🙂 Solo nomad: Champaign, IL is 20.2% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 34.6% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Champaign, IL is 35.3% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 45.2% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Champaign, IL
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.17 $15.17
$20.82 $20.82
-27.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$49.6 $49.6
$100 $100
-50.57%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.02 $11.02
$11.97 $11.97
-7.94%
Cappuccino
$4.21 $4.21
$5.56 $5.56
-24.28%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.27 $2.27
$3.11 $3.11
-27.01%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46 $1.46
$2.42 $2.42
-39.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.33 $5.33
$6.86 $6.86
-22.30%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.14 $6.14
$8.45 $8.45
-27.34%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Champaign, IL
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.69 $0.69
$1.04 $1.04
-33.65%
White Bread (500g)
$2.68 $2.68
$4.15 $4.15
-35.42%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.77 $2.77
$5.52 $5.52
-49.82%
Eggs
$2.76 $2.76
$4.65 $4.65
-40.65%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.21 $11.21
$14.33 $14.33
-21.77%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.17 $6.17
$14.88 $14.88
-58.53%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.56 $13.56
$19.34 $19.34
-29.89%
Apples (1kg)
$3.28 $3.28
$5.17 $5.17
-36.56%
Banana (1kg)
$1.59 $1.59
$1.71 $1.71
-7.02%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.39 $3.39
$4.41 $4.41
-23.13%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.17 $4.17
$4.51 $4.51
-7.54%
Potato (1kg)
$2.32 $2.32
$2.53 $2.53
-8.30%
Onion (1kg)
$2.41 $2.41
$2.74 $2.74
-12.04%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.41 $2.41
$2.43 $2.43
-0.82%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.46 $1.46
$2.7 $2.7
-45.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.51 $7.51
$15.19 $15.19
-50.56%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.18 $13.18
$16.42 $16.42
-19.73%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.14 $2.14
$2.35 $2.35
-8.94%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.78 $3.78
$3.7 $3.7
2.16%
🚌 Getting Around
Champaign, IL
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.98 $0.98
$2.53 $2.53
-61.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$20.05 $20.05
$74.1 $74.1
-72.95%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.44 $3.44
$3.34 $3.34
2.99%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.57 $1.57
$1.42 $1.42
10.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$40.61 $40.61
$25.42 $25.42
59.76%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.84 $0.84
$1.08 $1.08
-22.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32K $32K
$32.4K $32.4K
-1.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.2K $23.2K
$26.2K $26.2K
-11.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Champaign, IL
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$216 $216
$188 $188
14.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$42.43 $42.43
$63.7 $63.7
-33.39%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$61.9 $61.9
$65.2 $65.2
-5.06%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Champaign, IL
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.68 $39.68
$76.7 $76.7
-48.28%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.1 $10.1
$13.03 $13.03
-22.49%
Cinema Ticket
$11.88 $11.88
$14.93 $14.93
-20.43%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Champaign, IL
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,184 $1,184
$2,063 $2,063
-42.58%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.5K $23.5K
$39.2K $39.2K
-40.03%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Champaign, IL
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.97 $44.97
$64.3 $64.3
-30.07%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.26 $40.26
$52.4 $52.4
-23.15%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.2 $91.2
$95.2 $95.2
-4.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 $120
$145 $145
-17.32%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Champaign, IL
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$967 $967
$2,378 $2,378
-59.34%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$891 $891
$1,584 $1,584
-43.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,869 $1,869
$4,763 $4,763
-60.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,078 $1,078
$2,815 $2,815
-61.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,619 $1,619
$3,588 $3,588
-54.89%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,646 $1,646
$2,490 $2,490
-33.90%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Champaign, IL
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,890 $3,890
$5,275 $5,275
-26.26%
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 Champaign, IL: October 27, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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