Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Apple Valley, MN Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Apple Valley, MN

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,117 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,462 in Apple Valley, MN, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,695 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,660 in Apple Valley, MN, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,273 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,858 in Apple Valley, MN, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 27% more than Apple Valley, MN, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Chicago, IL and Apple Valley, MN sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 128%, Apple Valley, MN by 80%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.92 $19.92

$20.36 $20.36

-2.16%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.5 $88.5

$74.5 $74.5

18.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.94 $12.94

$11.10 $11.10

16.58%

Cappuccino

$5.54 $5.54

$6.12 $6.12

-9.48%

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

$2.74 $2.74

$2.85 $2.85

-3.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 $2.36

$2.32 $2.32

1.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.12 $7.12

$6.82 $6.82

4.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.73 $8.73

$8.20 $8.20

6.46%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$0.89 $0.89

50.56%

White Bread (500g)

$4.17 $4.17

$3.14 $3.14

32.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.73 $5.73

$3.65 $3.65

56.99%

Eggs

$4.89 $4.89

$3.63 $3.63

34.71%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.77 $14.77

$10.12 $10.12

45.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.85 $14.85

$12.06 $12.06

23.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.61 $19.61

$19.42 $19.42

0.98%

Apples (1kg)

$5.57 $5.57

$6.19 $6.19

-10.02%

Banana (1kg)

$1.92 $1.92

$1.52 $1.52

26.32%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.17 $4.17

$4.36 $4.36

-4.36%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.86 $4.86

$5.25 $5.25

-7.43%

Potato (1kg)

$2.84 $2.84

$2.16 $2.16

31.48%

Onion (1kg)

$2.80 $2.80

$3.58 $3.58

-21.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.20 $2.20

$2.31 $2.31

-4.76%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.06 $3.06

$2.69 $2.69

13.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$16.16 $16.16

$10.94 $10.94

47.71%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.82 $14.82

$15.06 $15.06

-1.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.77 $1.77

42.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.35 $3.35

$2.96 $2.96

13.18%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.55 $2.55

$1.96 $1.96

30.10%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.6 $75.6

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.30 $3.30

$5.11 $5.11

-35.42%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.36 $1.36

$1.69 $1.69

-19.53%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.12 $25.12

$23.59 $23.59

6.49%

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

$35.6K $35.6K

1.19%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$25.5K $25.5K

2.79%

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

$191 $191

$161 $161

18.85%

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

$67.9 $67.9

$49.55 $49.55

37.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.7 $61.7

$59.3 $59.3

4.01%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.5 $63.5

$41.85 $41.85

51.66%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.14 $27.14

Cinema Ticket

$18.02 $18.02

$14.26 $14.26

26.37%

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

$1,522 $1,522

$1,343 $1,343

13.34%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.3K $31.3K

$35.5K $35.5K

-11.75%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.7 $63.7

$58.3 $58.3

9.19%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.3 $55.3

$43.36 $43.36

27.42%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100 $100

$74.3 $74.3

35.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$153 $153

$86.1 $86.1

78.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,406 $2,406

$1,617 $1,617

48.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,653 $1,653

$1,311 $1,311

26.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,577 $4,577

$2,500 $2,500

83.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,771 $2,771

$2,132 $2,132

29.97%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,031 $4,031

$2,785 $2,785

44.74%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,745 $2,745

$2,410 $2,410

13.93%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,804 $4,804

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.38

6.12

4.25%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: September 13, 2026

Last update for Apple Valley, MN: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,406 in Chicago, IL versus $1,617 in Apple Valley, MN. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $88.0 in Chicago, IL versus $75.0 in Apple Valley, MN. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $464 vs $402 – making Apple Valley, MN the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Apple Valley, MN: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,117 in Chicago, IL, $2,462 in Apple Valley, MN – roughly 27% apart. Chicago, IL costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,676 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,693 in Apple Valley, MN. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Apple Valley, MN, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,117 in Chicago, IL and $2,462 in Apple Valley, MN. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $1,522 per month in Chicago, IL and $1,343 in Apple Valley, MN. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,117 in Chicago, IL and $2,462 in Apple Valley, MN. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,462 in Apple Valley, MN to $3,117 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Apple Valley, MN. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chicago, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.