Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Auburn, AL Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Auburn, AL

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 45.9% more expensive than Auburn, AL without rent, and 58.3% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 39% more expensive than Auburn, AL without rent, and 65.7% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Auburn, AL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$11.77 $11.77
76.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$58.8 $58.8
70.53%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$10.07 $10.07
18.87%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$4.89 $4.89
13.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.33 $2.33
33.48%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$1.89 $1.89
28.04%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$5.05 $5.05
35.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$6.01 $6.01
40.60%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Auburn, AL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$0.89 $0.89
16.85%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$3.26 $3.26
27.30%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$2.77 $2.77
99.28%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$4.34 $4.34
7.14%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$10.95 $10.95
30.87%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$7.31 $7.31
103.56%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$9.44 $9.44
104.87%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$5.62 $5.62
-8.01%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.25 $1.25
36.80%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$3.64 $3.64
21.15%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$4.48 $4.48
0.67%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$3.68 $3.68
-31.25%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$2.28 $2.28
20.18%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$1.65 $1.65
47.27%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$1.57 $1.57
71.97%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$5.04 $5.04
201.39%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$9.36 $9.36
75.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.73 $1.73
35.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$2.82 $2.82
31.21%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Auburn, AL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.04 $2.04
24.02%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$5.08 $5.08
-34.25%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.66 $1.66
-14.46%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$17.81 $17.81
42.73%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.72 $0.72
50.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$35.6K $35.6K
-8.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$26.4K $26.4K
-0.63%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Auburn, AL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$182 $182
3.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$40.45 $40.45
57.48%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$57.1 $57.1
14.15%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Auburn, AL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$65.3 $65.3
17.54%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$9.29 $9.29
60.71%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Auburn, AL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$981 $981
110.29%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$8,394 $8,394
366.75%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Auburn, AL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$38 $38
69.24%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$37.19 $37.19
40.87%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$71.8 $71.8
32.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$129 $129
12.14%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Auburn, AL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$912 $912
160.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$822 $822
92.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$1,989 $1,989
139.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$1,509 $1,509
86.48%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$2,239 $2,239
60.21%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,099 $2,099
18.66%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Auburn, AL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$4,120 $4,120
28.03%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.55
0.76%

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 Auburn, AL: October 27, 2025

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