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

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 17.7% more expensive than Ankeny, IA without rent, and 48.4% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 24.4% more expensive than Ankeny, IA without rent, and 62.2% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Ankeny, IA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$15.1 $15.1
37.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$58 $58
73.00%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$11.98 $11.98
-0.08%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$5.83 $5.83
-4.63%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.67 $2.67
16.48%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$1.59 $1.59
52.20%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$4.91 $4.91
39.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$7.05 $7.05
19.86%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Ankeny, IA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$0.97 $0.97
7.22%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$2.49 $2.49
66.67%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$2.21 $2.21
149.77%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$3.7 $3.7
25.68%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$10.68 $10.68
34.18%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$10.9 $10.9
36.51%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$14.78 $14.78
30.85%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$4.41 $4.41
17.23%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.99 $1.99
-14.07%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$4.79 $4.79
-7.93%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$4.55 $4.55
-0.88%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$3.56 $3.56
-28.93%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$3.29 $3.29
-16.72%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$0.94 $0.94
158.51%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$0.72 $0.72
275.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$8.93 $8.93
70.10%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$15.52 $15.52
5.80%
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
$3.41 $3.41
8.50%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Ankeny, IA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.03 $2.03
24.63%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$2.01 $2.01
66.17%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$2.18 $2.18
-34.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$19.67 $19.67
29.23%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.85 $0.85
27.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$25.6K $25.6K
26.41%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$24.3K $24.3K
7.76%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Ankeny, IA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$147 $147
27.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$49.6 $49.6
28.43%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$63.9 $63.9
2.07%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Ankeny, IA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$43.12 $43.12
77.92%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$14.84 $14.84
0.61%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Ankeny, IA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,080 $1,080
91.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$12K $12K
225.30%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Ankeny, IA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$48.15 $48.15
33.56%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$34.63 $34.63
51.29%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$86.6 $86.6
9.93%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$94.5 $94.5
53.01%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Ankeny, IA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$910 $910
161.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$940 $940
68.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$1,874 $1,874
154.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$1,385 $1,385
103.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$3,154 $3,154
13.77%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,415 $2,415
3.11%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Ankeny, IA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$5,454 $5,454
-3.27%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.54
0.92%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Ankeny, IA: October 28, 2025

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