Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Albert Lea, MN Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Albert Lea, MN

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,106 in Chicago, IL versus $1,864 in Albert Lea, MN.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,599 in Chicago, IL versus $2,744 in Albert Lea, MN.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,092 in Chicago, IL versus $3,624 in Albert Lea, MN.

Living in Chicago, IL is roughly 67% more expensive than in Albert Lea, MN, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 126% above, Albert Lea, MN 36% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.86 $19.86

$12.42 $12.42

59.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.3 $88.3

$74.7 $74.7

18.34%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.23 $13.23

$10.01 $10.01

32.17%

Cappuccino

$5.86 $5.86

$4.32 $4.32

35.65%

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

$2.61 $2.61

$3.13 $3.13

-16.61%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 $2.32

$1.86 $1.86

24.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.03 $7.03

$3.96 $3.96

77.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.25 $9.25

$6.56 $6.56

41.01%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$0.87 $0.87

54.02%

White Bread (500g)

$4.19 $4.19

$2.92 $2.92

43.49%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.50 $5.50

$2.25 $2.25

144.44%

Eggs

$4.71 $4.71

$3.54 $3.54

33.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.72 $14.72

$8.75 $8.75

68.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.53 $14.53

$9.03 $9.03

60.91%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.69 $19.69

$17.66 $17.66

11.49%

Apples (1kg)

$5.64 $5.64

$4.16 $4.16

35.58%

Banana (1kg)

$1.97 $1.97

$1.73 $1.73

13.87%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.04 $4.04

$3.90 $3.90

3.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.07 $5.07

$3.86 $3.86

31.35%

Potato (1kg)

$2.94 $2.94

$2.16 $2.16

36.11%

Onion (1kg)

$2.92 $2.92

$3.78 $3.78

-22.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.28 $2.28

$2.13 $2.13

7.04%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.12 $3.12

$1.77 $1.77

76.27%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$16.19 $16.19

$9.41 $9.41

72.05%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.17 $15.17

$14.02 $14.02

8.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.67 $2.67

$1.84 $1.84

45.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.48 $3.48

$2.95 $2.95

17.97%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.54 $2.54

$2.06 $2.06

23.30%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$76.0 $76.0

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.16 $3.16

$3.84 $3.84

-17.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.37 $1.37

$1.71 $1.71

-19.88%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.66 $22.66

$35.14 $35.14

-35.52%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 $1.20

$0.95 $0.95

26.32%

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

$37.0K $37.0K

$34.4K $34.4K

7.52%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$24.7K $24.7K

5.38%

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

$190 $190

$249 $249

-23.76%

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

$68.5 $68.5

$44.32 $44.32

54.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.1 $61.1

$54.8 $54.8

11.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.8 $63.8

$45.77 $45.77

39.35%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.80 $27.80

Cinema Ticket

$18.28 $18.28

$12.32 $12.32

48.38%

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

$1,525 $1,525

$1,016 $1,016

50.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$32.0K $32.0K

$7,794 $7,794

310.56%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.0 $64.0

$33.42 $33.42

91.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.4 $54.4

$24.78 $24.78

119.53%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 $101

$49.50 $49.50

103.23%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$153 $153

$61.0 $61.0

151.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,421 $2,421

$1,024 $1,024

136.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,690 $1,690

$748 $748

126.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,584 $4,584

$1,608 $1,608

185.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,782 $2,782

$1,187 $1,187

134.37%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,170 $4,170

$2,493 $2,493

67.24%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,739 $2,739

$2,500 $2,500

9.54%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,777 $4,777

$3,037 $3,037

57.30%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.38

6.24

2.24%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: August 29, 2026

Last update for Albert Lea, MN: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,421 in Chicago, IL and $1,024 in Albert Lea, MN. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chicago, IL pays 57% 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: $88.0 in Chicago, IL vs $75.0 in Albert Lea, MN for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $465 vs $338 per month, with Albert Lea, MN 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

Chicago, IL vs Albert Lea, MN: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chicago, IL and Albert Lea, MN differ by about 67% in total monthly costs ($3,106 vs $1,864 including rent). Albert Lea, MN is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 57% higher in Chicago, IL, 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: $2,421 in Chicago, IL versus $1,024 in Albert Lea, MN. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,525 in Chicago, IL versus $1,016 in Albert Lea, MN. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Albert Lea, MN – a meal for two runs $75.0 versus $88.0 in Chicago, IL. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,864 in Albert Lea, MN versus $3,106 in Chicago, IL, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Albert Lea, MN but tight or insufficient in Chicago, IL. The gap between the two cities makes Albert Lea, MN the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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, Chicago, IL and Albert Lea, MN 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 Albert Lea, MN gentler on the wallet – expenses run 67% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.