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

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 16.7% more expensive than Alexandria, MN without rent, and 35.1% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 9.8% more expensive than Alexandria, MN without rent, and 31.7% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$14.74 $14.74

41.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$60.8 $60.8

64.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$9.88 $9.88

21.15%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$5.3 $5.3

4.91%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.01 $2.01

54.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.94 $1.94

24.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$5.37 $5.37

27.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$6.88 $6.88

22.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$0.98 $0.98

6.12%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$3.23 $3.23

28.48%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$3.83 $3.83

44.13%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$3.29 $3.29

41.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$9.34 $9.34

53.43%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$11.85 $11.85

25.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$14.57 $14.57

32.74%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$5.11 $5.11

1.17%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.15 $1.15

48.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$5.73 $5.73

-23.04%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$5.25 $5.25

-14.10%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$3.81 $3.81

-33.60%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$3.73 $3.73

-26.54%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.96 $1.96

23.98%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$1.91 $1.91

41.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$10.48 $10.48

44.94%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$14.28 $14.28

14.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.68 $1.68

39.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$4.44 $4.44

-16.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.02 $2.02

25.25%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

$123 $123

-39.58%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$5.02 $5.02

-33.47%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.38 $1.38

2.90%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$29.43 $29.43

-13.63%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.82 $0.82

31.71%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$35.5K $35.5K

-8.80%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$25.4K $25.4K

3.02%

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

$188 $188

$218 $218

-13.74%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$48.48 $48.48

31.39%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$71.4 $71.4

-8.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$75.1 $75.1

2.12%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

$49 $49

-73.41%

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$10.11 $10.11

47.68%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,014 $1,014

103.33%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$30.1K $30.1K

30.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$24.93 $24.93

157.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$24.57 $24.57

113.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$49.5 $49.5

92.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$60.4 $60.4

139.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$1,060 $1,060

124.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$887 $887

78.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$2,154 $2,154

121.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$1,871 $1,871

50.42%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$2,627 $2,627

36.56%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$2,629 $2,629

-5.29%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$3,294 $3,294

60.14%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.43

2.64%

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, MN: October 28, 2025

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