Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Arlington, KY Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Arlington, KY

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 5.8% more expensive than Arlington, KY without rent, and 13.5% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 18.8% more expensive than Arlington, KY without rent, and 23% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$17.66 $17.66

17.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$80.3 $80.3

24.99%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$9.92 $9.92

20.67%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$6.03 $6.03

-7.79%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.96 $2.96

5.07%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.51 $2.51

-3.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$6.36 $6.36

7.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$7.84 $7.84

7.78%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$0.71 $0.71

46.48%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$4.14 $4.14

0.24%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$4.74 $4.74

16.46%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$3.92 $3.92

18.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$12.14 $12.14

18.04%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$15.68 $15.68

-5.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$16.16 $16.16

19.68%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$4.38 $4.38

18.04%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.47 $1.47

16.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$4.78 $4.78

-7.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$5.39 $5.39

-16.33%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.01 $2.01

25.87%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.23 $2.23

22.87%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.04 $2.04

19.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$1.48 $1.48

82.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$8.78 $8.78

73.01%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$15.63 $15.63

5.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$2.1 $2.1

11.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$4.5 $4.5

-17.78%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.06 $2.06

22.82%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$4.86 $4.86

-31.28%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.58 $1.58

-10.13%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$21.05 $21.05

20.76%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.79 $0.79

36.71%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

0.05%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$26.9K $26.9K

-2.48%

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

$188 $188

$203 $203

-7.23%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$69.3 $69.3

-8.01%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$71.4 $71.4

-8.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$43.51 $43.51

76.33%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$15.1 $15.1

-1.13%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,262 $1,262

63.42%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$30.8K $30.8K

27.33%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$60 $60

7.13%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$48.81 $48.81

7.33%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$93.6 $93.6

1.71%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$133 $133

8.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$1,574 $1,574

51.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,371 $1,371

15.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$2,593 $2,593

83.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$2,251 $2,251

25.06%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$2,697 $2,697

33.01%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$2,123 $2,123

17.31%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$5,967 $5,967

-11.59%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.52

1.23%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Arlington, KY: October 26, 2025

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