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: $3,184 in Chicago, IL versus $2,165 in Ankeny, IA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,725 in Chicago, IL versus $3,218 in Ankeny, IA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,266 in Chicago, IL versus $4,271 in Ankeny, IA.

Living in Chicago, IL is roughly 47% more expensive than in Ankeny, IA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 131% above, Ankeny, IA 57% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.26 $20.26

$20.06 $20.06

1.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.8 $88.8

$80.3 $80.3

10.60%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.16 $13.16

$11.86 $11.86

10.96%

Cappuccino

$5.77 $5.77

$5.98 $5.98

-3.51%

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

$2.63 $2.63

$3.04 $3.04

-13.49%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 $2.34

$2.57 $2.57

-8.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.06 $7.06

$4.96 $4.96

42.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.18 $9.18

$5.91 $5.91

55.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.30 $1.30

$1.22 $1.22

6.56%

White Bread (500g)

$4.05 $4.05

$2.88 $2.88

40.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.69 $5.69

$3.25 $3.25

75.08%

Eggs

$4.85 $4.85

$4.03 $4.03

20.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.08 $15.08

$9.69 $9.69

55.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.87 $14.87

$9.48 $9.48

56.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.28 $19.28

$13.66 $13.66

41.14%

Apples (1kg)

$5.68 $5.68

$4.31 $4.31

31.79%

Banana (1kg)

$1.93 $1.93

$1.48 $1.48

30.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.10 $4.10

$4.47 $4.47

-8.28%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.11 $5.11

$3.70 $3.70

38.11%

Potato (1kg)

$2.92 $2.92

$1.93 $1.93

51.30%

Onion (1kg)

$2.77 $2.77

$2.62 $2.62

5.73%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.30 $2.30

$2.33 $2.33

-1.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.04 $3.04

$0.66 $0.66

360.61%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.93 $15.93

$8.08 $8.08

97.15%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.06 $15.06

$14.77 $14.77

1.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.70 $1.70

48.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.48 $3.48

$2.21 $2.21

57.47%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.8 $74.8

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.28 $3.28

$1.95 $1.95

68.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.36 $1.36

$1.20 $1.20

13.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.55 $22.55

$19.95 $19.95

13.03%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 $1.22

$0.89 $0.89

37.08%

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

$36.1K $36.1K

$35.2K $35.2K

2.67%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$24.4K $24.4K

6.37%

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

$188 $188

$204 $204

-7.53%

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

$69.0 $69.0

$66.4 $66.4

3.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.6 $63.6

$70.5 $70.5

-9.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.4 $63.4

$73.6 $73.6

-13.85%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.11 $27.11

Cinema Ticket

$17.90 $17.90

$14.95 $14.95

19.73%

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

$1,526 $1,526

$1,167 $1,167

30.75%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.9K $31.9K

$11.7K $11.7K

172.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.1 $62.1

$59.7 $59.7

4.06%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$56.4 $56.4

$43.38 $43.38

29.97%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 $101

$104 $104

-2.59%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$156 $156

$146 $146

7.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,342 $2,342

$954 $954

145.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,698 $1,698

$906 $906

87.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,576 $4,576

$1,842 $1,842

148.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,806 $2,806

$1,414 $1,414

98.49%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,130 $4,130

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,740 $2,740

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,891 $4,891

$5,222 $5,222

-6.35%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.38

6.03

5.80%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: September 6, 2026

Last update for Ankeny, IA: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,342 in Chicago, IL and $954 in Ankeny, IA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ankeny, IA pays 7% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $89.0 in Chicago, IL vs $80.0 in Ankeny, IA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $465 vs $325 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 47% in total monthly costs ($3,184 vs $2,165 including rent). Ankeny, IA is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 7% lower in Ankeny, IA. 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: $2,342 in Chicago, IL versus $954 in Ankeny, IA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 43% higher in Chicago, IL. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $3,184 per month in Chicago, IL versus $2,165 in Ankeny, IA – a 47% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,165 in Ankeny, IA versus $3,184 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 47% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.