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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,111 in Chicago, IL versus $1,921 in Auburn, AL.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,680 in Chicago, IL versus $2,826 in Auburn, AL.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,249 in Chicago, IL versus $3,730 in Auburn, AL.

Living in Chicago, IL is roughly 62% more expensive than Auburn, AL, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 131% above, Auburn, AL 43% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.39 $20.39

$11.89 $11.89

71.49%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.2 $98.2

$59.4 $59.4

65.53%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.07 $12.07

$9.97 $9.97

21.06%

Cappuccino

$5.73 $5.73

$4.90 $4.90

16.94%

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

$2.97 $2.97

$2.43 $2.43

22.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$1.91 $1.91

29.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.99 $6.99

$4.91 $4.91

42.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.21 $8.21

$5.83 $5.83

40.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$0.89 $0.89

17.98%

White Bread (500g)

$4.08 $4.08

$3.27 $3.27

24.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.50 $5.50

$2.61 $2.61

110.73%

Eggs

$4.64 $4.64

$4.31 $4.31

7.66%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.40 $14.40

$10.61 $10.61

35.72%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.20 $15.20

$7.42 $7.42

104.85%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.28 $19.28

$9.14 $9.14

110.94%

Apples (1kg)

$5.14 $5.14

$5.62 $5.62

-8.54%

Banana (1kg)

$1.76 $1.76

$1.27 $1.27

38.58%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.34 $4.34

$3.57 $3.57

21.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.36 $4.36

$4.35 $4.35

0.23%

Potato (1kg)

$2.44 $2.44

$3.50 $3.50

-30.29%

Onion (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$2.30 $2.30

21.30%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.52 $2.52

$1.64 $1.64

53.66%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.66 $2.66

$1.51 $1.51

76.16%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.90 $14.90

$5.02 $5.02

196.81%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.97 $14.97

$9.40 $9.40

59.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.45 $2.45

$1.72 $1.72

42.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.54 $3.54

$2.78 $2.78

27.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.96 $1.96

23.98%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.5 $74.5

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.32 $3.32

$5.02 $5.02

-33.86%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.38 $1.38

$1.70 $1.70

-18.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.11 $25.11

$18.30 $18.30

37.21%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.75 $0.75

45.33%

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

$31.9K $31.9K

$34.9K $34.9K

-8.74%

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

$26.8K $26.8K

$26.1K $26.1K

2.93%

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

$187 $187

$177 $177

5.48%

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

$63.5 $63.5

$39.27 $39.27

61.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.5 $65.5

$57.6 $57.6

13.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.7 $75.7

$64.4 $64.4

17.62%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.05 $13.05

Cinema Ticket

$14.80 $14.80

$9.00 $9.00

64.44%

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

$2,025 $2,025

$978 $978

107.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.0K $39.0K

$8,493 $8,493

358.85%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.2 $64.2

$38.14 $38.14

68.20%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.7 $51.7

$35.95 $35.95

43.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.6 $95.6

$70.4 $70.4

35.79%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$129 $129

12.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,326 $2,326

$928 $928

150.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,611 $1,611

$825 $825

95.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,703 $4,703

$2,014 $2,014

133.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,721 $2,721

$1,529 $1,529

77.92%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,829 $3,829

$2,193 $2,193

74.60%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,533 $2,533

$2,096 $2,096

20.84%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,100 $5,100

$4,249 $4,249

20.03%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.55

0.76%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: June 7, 2026

Last update for Auburn, AL: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,326 in Chicago, IL and $928 in Auburn, AL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chicago, IL pays 20% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $98.0 in Chicago, IL vs $59.0 in Auburn, AL for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $448 vs $310 per month, with Auburn, AL 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 Auburn, AL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chicago, IL and Auburn, AL differ by about 62% in total monthly costs ($3,111 vs $1,921 including rent). Auburn, AL is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Chicago, IL pays 20% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,326 in Chicago, IL versus $928 in Auburn, AL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $2,025 in Chicago, IL versus $978 in Auburn, AL. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Auburn, AL – a meal for two runs $59.0 versus $98.0 in Chicago, IL. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,921 in Auburn, AL versus $3,111 in Chicago, IL, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Auburn, AL but tight or insufficient in Chicago, IL. The gap between the two cities makes Auburn, AL 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.

Expats usually find Auburn, AL gentler on the wallet – expenses run 62% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.