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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,077 in Chicago, IL versus $2,164 in Alexandria, LA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,628 in Chicago, IL versus $3,432 in Alexandria, LA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,179 in Chicago, IL versus $4,700 in Alexandria, LA.

Living in Chicago, IL is roughly 42% more expensive than Alexandria, LA, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 130% above, Alexandria, LA 61% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.91 $20.91

$12.20 $12.20

71.39%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.1 $98.1

$46.87 $46.87

109.37%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.86 $11.86

$4.85 $4.85

144.54%

Cappuccino

$5.60 $5.60

$5.41 $5.41

3.51%

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

$3.07 $3.07

$2.87 $2.87

6.97%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.12 $2.12

16.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.14 $7.14

$6.02 $6.02

18.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.08 $8.08

$8.20 $8.20

-1.46%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$1.29 $1.29

-18.60%

White Bread (500g)

$4.11 $4.11

$1.61 $1.61

155.28%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.61 $5.61

$6.23 $6.23

-9.95%

Eggs

$4.51 $4.51

$4.52 $4.52

-0.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.27 $14.27

$11.12 $11.12

28.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.89 $14.89

$11.32 $11.32

31.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.19 $19.19

$14.87 $14.87

29.05%

Apples (1kg)

$5.14 $5.14

$5.52 $5.52

-6.88%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 $1.77

$1.35 $1.35

31.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.39 $4.39

$4.47 $4.47

-1.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.56 $4.56

$5.08 $5.08

-10.24%

Potato (1kg)

$2.54 $2.54

$4.02 $4.02

-36.82%

Onion (1kg)

$2.75 $2.75

$3.12 $3.12

-11.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.25 $2.25

7.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$2.30 $2.30

13.91%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.92 $14.92

$8.69 $8.69

71.69%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.80 $14.80

$16.77 $16.77

-11.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$2.05 $2.05

20.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 $3.73

$3.49 $3.49

6.88%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.48 $2.48

$2.04 $2.04

21.57%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.4 $75.4

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.18 $3.18

$3.46 $3.46

-8.09%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.53 $1.53

-7.19%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.94 $24.94

$34.38 $34.38

-27.46%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.06 $1.06

$0.68 $0.68

55.88%

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

$31.9K $31.9K

$34.4K $34.4K

-7.23%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$28.4K $28.4K

-8.19%

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

$185 $185

-0.22%

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

$61.7 $61.7

$58.0 $58.0

6.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.9 $66.9

$59.7 $59.7

12.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.2 $75.2

$42.69 $42.69

76.08%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.08 $13.08

Cinema Ticket

$14.71 $14.71

$11.88 $11.88

23.82%

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

$2,020 $2,020

$1,544 $1,544

30.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.4K $39.4K

$10.4K $10.4K

278.77%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.6 $64.6

$49.18 $49.18

31.37%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.5 $52.5

$40.87 $40.87

28.33%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.8 $97.8

$75.9 $75.9

28.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$148 $148

$110 $110

34.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,313 $2,313

$861 $861

168.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,590 $1,590

$1,018 $1,018

56.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,608 $4,608

$1,355 $1,355

240.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,779 $2,779

$2,219 $2,219

25.21%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,922 $3,922

$1,265 $1,265

210.05%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,613 $2,613

$1,292 $1,292

102.25%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,217 $5,217

$3,027 $3,027

72.34%

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: May 30, 2026

Last update for Alexandria, LA: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,313 in Chicago, IL and $861 in Alexandria, LA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chicago, IL pays 72% 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 $47.00 in Alexandria, LA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $447 vs $391 per month, with Alexandria, LA 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 Alexandria, LA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Alexandria, LA is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 42% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Chicago, IL pays 72% 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 $861 in Alexandria, LA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 14% higher in Chicago, IL. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $3,077 per month in Chicago, IL versus $2,164 in Alexandria, LA – a 42% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,164 in Alexandria, LA versus $3,077 in Chicago, IL, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Alexandria, LA but tight or insufficient in Chicago, IL. The gap between the two cities makes Alexandria, LA the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Alexandria, LA is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Chicago, IL, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Expats usually find Alexandria, LA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 42% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.