Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Alexandria, LA Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Alexandria, LA

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 34.7% more expensive than Alexandria, LA without rent, and 42.9% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 36.1% more expensive than Alexandria, LA without rent, and 35.4% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$12.24 $12.24

70.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$48.2 $48.2

108.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$4.91 $4.91

143.79%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$5.43 $5.43

2.39%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.87 $2.87

8.36%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.12 $2.12

14.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$5.93 $5.93

15.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$8.22 $8.22

2.80%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.33 $1.33

-21.80%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$1.69 $1.69

145.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$6.21 $6.21

-11.11%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$4.45 $4.45

4.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$11.1 $11.1

29.10%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$11.34 $11.34

31.22%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$14.41 $14.41

34.21%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$5.34 $5.34

-3.18%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.29 $1.29

32.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$4.31 $4.31

2.32%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$5.27 $5.27

-14.42%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$3.96 $3.96

-36.11%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$3.21 $3.21

-14.64%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.19 $2.19

10.96%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$2.28 $2.28

18.42%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$8.89 $8.89

70.87%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$15.37 $15.37

6.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$2.07 $2.07

13.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$3.49 $3.49

6.02%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.04 $2.04

24.02%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$3.56 $3.56

-6.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.47 $1.47

-3.40%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$35.32 $35.32

-28.03%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.67 $0.67

61.19%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$34.8K $34.8K

-6.84%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$28.1K $28.1K

-6.68%

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

$188 $188

$184 $184

2.13%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$58.2 $58.2

9.49%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$59.1 $59.1

10.27%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$43.41 $43.41

76.73%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$12.03 $12.03

24.11%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,578 $1,578

30.68%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$10.2K $10.2K

282.26%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$49.92 $49.92

28.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$40.11 $40.11

30.62%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$75 $75

26.91%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$108 $108

33.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$841 $841

182.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,013 $1,013

56.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$1,359 $1,359

250.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$2,261 $2,261

24.48%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$1,292 $1,292

177.77%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$1,287 $1,287

93.43%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$2,944 $2,944

79.20%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.57

0.46%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Alexandria, LA: October 28, 2025

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