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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,106 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,015 in Alton, IL, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,599 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,960 in Alton, IL, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,092 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,905 in Alton, IL, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 54% more than Alton, IL, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chicago, IL and Alton, IL sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 126%, Alton, IL by 47%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.86 $19.86

$14.87 $14.87

33.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.3 $88.3

$55.6 $55.6

58.77%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.23 $13.23

$8.17 $8.17

61.93%

Cappuccino

$5.86 $5.86

$4.72 $4.72

24.15%

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

$2.61 $2.61

$1.41 $1.41

85.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 $2.32

$1.09 $1.09

112.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.03 $7.03

$3.92 $3.92

79.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.25 $9.25

$4.87 $4.87

89.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$0.87 $0.87

54.02%

White Bread (500g)

$4.19 $4.19

$2.39 $2.39

75.31%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.50 $5.50

$3.11 $3.11

76.85%

Eggs

$4.71 $4.71

$3.79 $3.79

24.27%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.72 $14.72

$12.21 $12.21

20.56%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.53 $14.53

$10.10 $10.10

43.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.69 $19.69

$17.76 $17.76

10.87%

Apples (1kg)

$5.64 $5.64

$4.28 $4.28

31.78%

Banana (1kg)

$1.97 $1.97

$1.20 $1.20

64.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.04 $4.04

$4.95 $4.95

-18.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.07 $5.07

$4.86 $4.86

4.32%

Potato (1kg)

$2.94 $2.94

$2.23 $2.23

31.84%

Onion (1kg)

$2.92 $2.92

$2.83 $2.83

3.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.28 $2.28

$2.03 $2.03

12.32%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.12 $3.12

$4.09 $4.09

-23.72%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$16.19 $16.19

$11.00 $11.00

47.18%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.17 $15.17

$12.93 $12.93

17.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.67 $2.67

$2.06 $2.06

29.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.48 $3.48

$4.38 $4.38

-20.55%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.54 $2.54

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$76.0 $76.0

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.16 $3.16

$4.45 $4.45

-28.99%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.37 $1.37

$2.93 $2.93

-53.24%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.66 $22.66

$17.75 $17.75

27.66%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 $1.20

$1.02 $1.02

17.65%

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

$37.0K $37.0K

$28.3K $28.3K

30.61%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$26.8K $26.8K

-2.83%

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

$190 $190

$438 $438

-56.70%

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

$68.5 $68.5

$44.51 $44.51

53.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.1 $61.1

$64.8 $64.8

-5.73%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.8 $63.8

$27.22 $27.22

134.31%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.80 $27.80

Cinema Ticket

$18.28 $18.28

$14.52 $14.52

25.90%

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

$1,525 $1,525

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$32.0K $32.0K

$12.8K $12.8K

150.50%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.0 $64.0

$39.35 $39.35

62.69%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.4 $54.4

$33.24 $33.24

63.66%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 $101

$63.8 $63.8

57.58%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$153 $153

$74.8 $74.8

105.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,421 $2,421

$749 $749

223.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,690 $1,690

$641 $641

163.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,584 $4,584

$1,118 $1,118

310.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,782 $2,782

$1,309 $1,309

112.54%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,170 $4,170

$1,562 $1,562

166.99%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,739 $2,739

$1,453 $1,453

88.43%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,777 $4,777

$3,799 $3,799

25.75%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.38

6.33%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: August 29, 2026

Last update for Alton, IL: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,421 in Chicago, IL versus $749 in Alton, IL. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 26% higher in Chicago, IL, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $88.0 in Chicago, IL versus $56.0 in Alton, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $465 vs $388 – making Alton, IL the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Alton, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chicago, IL costs about 54% more than Alton, IL, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,659 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,023 in Alton, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Alton, IL, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,106 in Chicago, IL and $2,015 in Alton, IL. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 20% more in Chicago, IL, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Alton, IL, where all-in costs run around $2,015, than in Chicago, IL at $3,106. In Alton, IL it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chicago, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Alton, IL costs $2,015 versus $3,106 in Chicago, IL. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Alton, IL. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chicago, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.