Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Alton, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Alton, IL

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 8.2% more expensive than Alton, IL without rent, and 15% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 21.4% more expensive than Alton, IL without rent, and 21.4% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Alton, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$19.46 $19.46
6.99%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$67.5 $67.5
48.74%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$11.85 $11.85
1.01%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$5.11 $5.11
8.81%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.21 $2.21
40.72%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$1.86 $1.86
30.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$4.86 $4.86
41.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$6.4 $6.4
32.03%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Alton, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$0.84 $0.84
23.81%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$2.53 $2.53
64.03%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$6.32 $6.32
-12.66%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$3.63 $3.63
28.10%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$7.67 $7.67
86.83%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$7.83 $7.83
90.04%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$19.89 $19.89
-2.77%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$6.87 $6.87
-24.75%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$2.55 $2.55
-32.94%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$7.18 $7.18
-38.58%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$4.99 $4.99
-9.62%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$5.26 $5.26
-51.90%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$4.46 $4.46
-38.57%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.03 $2.03
19.70%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.5 $2.5
8.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$6.9 $6.9
120.14%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$12.09 $12.09
35.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.85 $1.85
27.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$3.99 $3.99
-7.27%
🚌 Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Alton, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$1.96 $1.96
29.08%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$3.07 $3.07
8.79%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.6 $1.6
-11.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$29.03 $29.03
-12.44%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.86 $0.86
25.58%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$30.1K $30.1K
7.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$25.4K $25.4K
3.20%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Alton, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$246 $246
-23.48%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$49.09 $49.09
29.76%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$62.5 $62.5
4.27%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Alton, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$43.61 $43.61
75.92%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$11.85 $11.85
25.99%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Alton, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,317 $1,317
56.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$23K $23K
70.02%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Alton, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$55.8 $55.8
15.23%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$43.58 $43.58
20.22%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$73.9 $73.9
28.84%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$194 $194
-25.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Alton, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,580 $1,580
50.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,371 $1,371
15.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$2,632 $2,632
80.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$2,230 $2,230
26.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$1,277 $1,277
181.05%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,700 $2,700
-7.78%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Alton, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$4,534 $4,534
16.34%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.56
0.61%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Alton, IL: October 29, 2025

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