Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Ames, IA Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Ames, IA

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 8.9% more expensive than Ames, IA without rent, and 45.4% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 27.4% more expensive than Ames, IA without rent, and 47% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$18.07 $18.07

15.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$44.34 $44.34

126.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$9.04 $9.04

32.41%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$5.27 $5.27

5.50%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$1.95 $1.95

59.49%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.74 $1.74

39.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$2.99 $2.99

129.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$6.94 $6.94

21.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.01 $1.01

2.97%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$3.65 $3.65

13.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$3.11 $3.11

77.49%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$3.29 $3.29

41.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$9.44 $9.44

51.80%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$11.6 $11.6

28.28%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$14.09 $14.09

37.26%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$5.09 $5.09

1.57%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.15 $1.15

48.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$5.79 $5.79

-23.83%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$5.1 $5.1

-11.57%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$3.76 $3.76

-32.71%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$3.75 $3.75

-26.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.99 $1.99

22.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$1.97 $1.97

37.06%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$9 $9

68.78%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$16.23 $16.23

1.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.71 $1.71

37.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$4.38 $4.38

-15.53%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.49 $1.49

69.80%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

$47.13 $47.13

57.29%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$4.9 $4.9

-31.84%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.39 $1.39

2.16%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$49.16 $49.16

-48.29%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.8 $0.8

35.00%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$24.7K $24.7K

31.25%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$25.5K $25.5K

2.72%

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

$188 $188

$189 $189

-0.42%

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

$74.3 $74.3

-12.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$68.5 $68.5

12.00%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

$19.74 $19.74

-33.99%

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$13.9 $13.9

7.41%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,470 $1,470

40.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$30.2K $30.2K

29.71%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$38.64 $38.64

66.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$42.65 $42.65

22.84%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$84.4 $84.4

12.87%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$116 $116

25.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$989 $989

140.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$837 $837

89.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$1,931 $1,931

146.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$1,676 $1,676

67.92%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$2,346 $2,346

52.96%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$2,182 $2,182

14.14%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$3,732 $3,732

41.34%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.02

9.63%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Ames, IA: October 28, 2025

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