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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,117 in Chicago, IL versus $2,144 in Ames, IA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,695 in Chicago, IL versus $3,218 in Ames, IA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,273 in Chicago, IL versus $4,292 in Ames, IA.

Living in Chicago, IL is roughly 45% more expensive than in Ames, IA, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 128% above, Ames, IA 57% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.92 $19.92

$17.66 $17.66

12.80%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.5 $88.5

$52.2 $52.2

69.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.94 $12.94

$11.85 $11.85

9.20%

Cappuccino

$5.54 $5.54

$5.10 $5.10

8.63%

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

$2.74 $2.74

$2.75 $2.75

-0.36%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 $2.36

$2.28 $2.28

3.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.12 $7.12

$4.06 $4.06

75.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.73 $8.73

$7.18 $7.18

21.59%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$0.84 $0.84

59.52%

White Bread (500g)

$4.17 $4.17

$3.65 $3.65

14.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.73 $5.73

$3.22 $3.22

77.95%

Eggs

$4.89 $4.89

$3.48 $3.48

40.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.77 $14.77

$10.39 $10.39

42.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.85 $14.85

$13.78 $13.78

7.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.61 $19.61

$18.39 $18.39

6.63%

Apples (1kg)

$5.57 $5.57

$5.82 $5.82

-4.30%

Banana (1kg)

$1.92 $1.92

$1.77 $1.77

8.47%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.17 $4.17

$6.47 $6.47

-35.55%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.86 $4.86

$5.01 $5.01

-2.99%

Potato (1kg)

$2.84 $2.84

$4.29 $4.29

-33.80%

Onion (1kg)

$2.80 $2.80

$4.34 $4.34

-35.48%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.20 $2.20

$2.28 $2.28

-3.51%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.06 $3.06

$2.43 $2.43

25.93%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$16.16 $16.16

$13.02 $13.02

24.12%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.82 $14.82

$16.19 $16.19

-8.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.78 $2.78

-8.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.35 $3.35

$5.05 $5.05

-33.66%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.55 $2.55

$0.98 $0.98

160.20%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.6 $75.6

$35.35 $35.35

113.78%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.30 $3.30

$5.12 $5.12

-35.55%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.36 $1.36

$1.76 $1.76

-22.73%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.12 $25.12

$24.40 $24.40

2.95%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.17 $1.17

$0.92 $0.92

27.17%

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

$36.0K $36.0K

$25.3K $25.3K

42.34%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$25.5K $25.5K

2.63%

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

$191 $191

$161 $161

19.16%

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

$67.9 $67.9

$54.4 $54.4

24.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.7 $61.7

$68.4 $68.4

-9.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.5 $63.5

$67.2 $67.2

-5.56%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.14 $27.14

$20.40 $20.40

33.04%

Cinema Ticket

$18.02 $18.02

$15.88 $15.88

13.48%

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

$1,522 $1,522

$1,391 $1,391

9.44%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.3K $31.3K

$36.6K $36.6K

-14.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.7 $63.7

$58.7 $58.7

8.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.3 $55.3

$43.99 $43.99

25.60%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100 $100

$89.8 $89.8

11.89%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$153 $153

$105 $105

46.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,406 $2,406

$1,002 $1,002

140.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,653 $1,653

$825 $825

100.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,577 $4,577

$1,802 $1,802

153.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,771 $2,771

$1,507 $1,507

83.92%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,031 $4,031

$2,448 $2,448

64.66%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,745 $2,745

$2,195 $2,195

25.09%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,804 $4,804

$3,666 $3,666

31.05%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.38

6.02

5.98%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: September 13, 2026

Last update for Ames, IA: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,406 in Chicago, IL and $1,002 in Ames, IA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chicago, IL pays 31% 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: $88.0 in Chicago, IL vs $52.0 in Ames, IA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $464 vs $434 per month, with Ames, IA 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 Ames, IA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ames, IA wins on cost – living expenses run 45% lower than in Chicago, IL. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ames, IA the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 31% higher in Chicago, IL, 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: $2,406 in Chicago, IL versus $1,002 in Ames, IA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Ames, IA runs roughly 114% less than in Chicago, IL. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $1,522 in Chicago, IL versus $1,391 in Ames, IA. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $2,144 in Ames, IA versus $3,117 in Chicago, IL, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Ames, IA but tight or insufficient in Chicago, IL. The gap between the two cities makes Ames, IA the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Ames, IA delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,144 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Ames, IA hard to pass up.

Expats usually find Ames, IA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 45% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.