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: $3,077 in Chicago, IL versus $1,887 in Albert Lea, MN.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,628 in Chicago, IL versus $2,819 in Albert Lea, MN.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,179 in Chicago, IL versus $3,751 in Albert Lea, MN.

Living in Chicago, IL is roughly 63% more expensive than Albert Lea, MN, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 130% above, Albert Lea, MN 41% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.91 $20.91

$14.79 $14.79

41.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.1 $98.1

$69.2 $69.2

41.87%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.86 $11.86

$10.48 $10.48

13.17%

Cappuccino

$5.60 $5.60

$5.55 $5.55

0.90%

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

$3.07 $3.07

$1.95 $1.95

57.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$1.54 $1.54

60.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.14 $7.14

$4.60 $4.60

55.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.08 $8.08

$5.97 $5.97

35.34%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$0.88 $0.88

19.32%

White Bread (500g)

$4.11 $4.11

$2.90 $2.90

41.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.61 $5.61

$2.17 $2.17

158.53%

Eggs

$4.51 $4.51

$3.23 $3.23

39.63%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.27 $14.27

$8.58 $8.58

66.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.89 $14.89

$11.08 $11.08

34.39%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.19 $19.19

$15.77 $15.77

21.69%

Apples (1kg)

$5.14 $5.14

$4.66 $4.66

10.30%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 $1.77

$1.15 $1.15

53.91%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.39 $4.39

$5.25 $5.25

-16.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.56 $4.56

$4.80 $4.80

-5.00%

Potato (1kg)

$2.54 $2.54

$2.57 $2.57

-1.17%

Onion (1kg)

$2.75 $2.75

$2.25 $2.25

22.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.07 $2.07

16.91%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$2.18 $2.18

20.18%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.92 $14.92

$9.00 $9.00

65.78%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.80 $14.80

$15.17 $15.17

-2.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$2.15 $2.15

14.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 $3.73

$3.34 $3.34

11.68%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.48 $2.48

$1.98 $1.98

25.25%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.4 $75.4

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.18 $3.18

$3.52 $3.52

-9.66%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.38 $1.38

2.90%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.94 $24.94

$44.90 $44.90

-44.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.06 $1.06

$0.84 $0.84

26.19%

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

$31.9K $31.9K

$39.2K $39.2K

-18.48%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$27.3K $27.3K

-4.53%

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

$185 $185

$204 $204

-9.53%

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

$61.7 $61.7

$54.3 $54.3

13.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.9 $66.9

$72.3 $72.3

-7.45%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.2 $75.2

$43.07 $43.07

74.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.08 $13.08

Cinema Ticket

$14.71 $14.71

$12.63 $12.63

16.47%

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

$2,020 $2,020

$987 $987

104.76%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.4K $39.4K

$23.4K $23.4K

68.40%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.6 $64.6

$45.29 $45.29

42.66%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.5 $52.5

$24.76 $24.76

111.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.8 $97.8

$49.42 $49.42

97.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$148 $148

$58.8 $58.8

150.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,313 $2,313

$1,094 $1,094

111.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,590 $1,590

$756 $756

110.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,608 $4,608

$1,706 $1,706

170.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,779 $2,779

$1,259 $1,259

120.66%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,922 $3,922

$2,639 $2,639

48.62%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,613 $2,613

$2,275 $2,275

14.86%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,217 $5,217

$3,057 $3,057

70.65%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.49

1.69%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: May 30, 2026

Last update for Albert Lea, MN: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,313 in Chicago, IL and $1,094 in Albert Lea, MN. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chicago, IL pays 71% 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: $98.0 in Chicago, IL vs $69.0 in Albert Lea, MN for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $447 vs $358 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 63% in total monthly costs ($3,077 vs $1,887 including rent). Albert Lea, MN is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Chicago, IL pays 71% more on average, 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: $2,313 in Chicago, IL versus $1,094 in Albert Lea, MN. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $2,020 in Chicago, IL versus $987 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 $69.0 versus $98.0 in Chicago, IL. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,887 in Albert Lea, MN versus $3,077 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 63% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.