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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,077 in Chicago, IL versus $1,993 in Ankeny, IA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,628 in Chicago, IL versus $2,892 in Ankeny, IA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,179 in Chicago, IL versus $3,790 in Ankeny, IA.

Living in Chicago, IL is roughly 54% more expensive than Ankeny, IA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 130% above, Ankeny, IA 49% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.91 $20.91

$15.25 $15.25

37.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.1 $98.1

$57.7 $57.7

70.19%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.86 $11.86

$11.81 $11.81

0.42%

Cappuccino

$5.60 $5.60

$6.17 $6.17

-9.24%

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

$3.07 $3.07

$2.57 $2.57

19.46%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$1.57 $1.57

57.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.14 $7.14

$5.09 $5.09

40.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.08 $8.08

$7.11 $7.11

13.64%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$0.91 $0.91

15.38%

White Bread (500g)

$4.11 $4.11

$2.44 $2.44

68.44%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.61 $5.61

$2.25 $2.25

149.33%

Eggs

$4.51 $4.51

$3.63 $3.63

24.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.27 $14.27

$10.90 $10.90

30.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.89 $14.89

$10.94 $10.94

36.11%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.19 $19.19

$14.32 $14.32

34.01%

Apples (1kg)

$5.14 $5.14

$4.52 $4.52

13.72%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 $1.77

$2.02 $2.02

-12.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.39 $4.39

$4.86 $4.86

-9.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.56 $4.56

$4.53 $4.53

0.66%

Potato (1kg)

$2.54 $2.54

$3.59 $3.59

-29.25%

Onion (1kg)

$2.75 $2.75

$3.33 $3.33

-17.42%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.04 $1.04

132.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$0.67 $0.67

291.04%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.92 $14.92

$9.01 $9.01

65.59%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.80 $14.80

$15.30 $15.30

-3.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$1.68 $1.68

46.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 $3.73

$3.41 $3.41

9.38%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.48 $2.48

$1.97 $1.97

25.89%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.4 $75.4

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.18 $3.18

$1.99 $1.99

59.80%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$2.16 $2.16

-34.26%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.94 $24.94

$20.24 $20.24

23.22%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.06 $1.06

$0.83 $0.83

27.71%

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

$31.9K $31.9K

$26.2K $26.2K

21.68%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$24.1K $24.1K

8.04%

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

$185 $185

$146 $146

26.36%

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

$61.7 $61.7

$49.88 $49.88

23.78%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.9 $66.9

$62.9 $62.9

6.32%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.2 $75.2

$42.89 $42.89

75.26%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.08 $13.08

Cinema Ticket

$14.71 $14.71

$15.13 $15.13

-2.78%

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

$2,020 $2,020

$1,088 $1,088

85.69%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.4K $39.4K

$11.7K $11.7K

237.79%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.6 $64.6

$49.04 $49.04

31.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.5 $52.5

$34.51 $34.51

51.98%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.8 $97.8

$84.5 $84.5

15.74%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$148 $148

$94.0 $94.0

56.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,313 $2,313

$924 $924

150.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,590 $1,590

$916 $916

73.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,608 $4,608

$1,850 $1,850

149.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,779 $2,779

$1,353 $1,353

105.34%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,922 $3,922

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,613 $2,613

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,217 $5,217

$5,274 $5,274

-1.08%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.54

0.92%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: May 30, 2026

Last update for Ankeny, IA: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,313 in Chicago, IL and $924 in Ankeny, IA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ankeny, IA pays 1% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $98.0 in Chicago, IL vs $58.0 in Ankeny, IA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $447 vs $340 per month, with Ankeny, 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 Ankeny, IA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chicago, IL and Ankeny, IA differ by about 54% in total monthly costs ($3,077 vs $1,993 including rent). Ankeny, IA is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Ankeny, IA earns 1% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,313 in Chicago, IL versus $924 in Ankeny, IA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 32% higher in Chicago, IL. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $3,077 per month in Chicago, IL versus $1,993 in Ankeny, IA – a 54% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,993 in Ankeny, IA versus $3,077 in Chicago, IL, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Ankeny, IA but tight or insufficient in Chicago, IL. The gap between the two cities makes Ankeny, IA the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Chicago, IL and Ankeny, IA are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Ankeny, IA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 54% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.