Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Austin, MN Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Austin, MN

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 51.1% more expensive than Austin, MN without rent, and 24.4% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 32.6% more expensive than Austin, MN without rent, and 31.8% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$15.71 $15.71

32.53%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$90.7 $90.7

10.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$11.93 $11.93

0.34%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$5.1 $5.1

9.02%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.65 $2.65

17.36%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.05 $2.05

18.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$4.87 $4.87

40.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$7.12 $7.12

18.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$0.82 $0.82

26.83%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$2.52 $2.52

64.68%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$1.98 $1.98

178.79%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$2.63 $2.63

76.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$12.64 $12.64

13.37%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$6.56 $6.56

126.83%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$18.1 $18.1

6.85%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$4.51 $4.51

14.63%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.2 $1.2

42.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$3.57 $3.57

23.53%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$1.7 $1.7

165.29%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.67 $1.67

51.50%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.9 $2.9

-5.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.49 $1.49

63.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$1.96 $1.96

37.76%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$8.76 $8.76

73.40%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$2.96 $2.96

454.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.71 $1.71

37.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$3.9 $3.9

-5.13%

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

$1.96 $1.96

70.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$19.81 $19.81

28.32%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

26.98%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$24.4K $24.4K

7.63%

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

$188 $188

$146 $146

28.97%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$50.7 $50.7

25.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$74.6 $74.6

-12.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$43.16 $43.16

77.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$15.17 $15.17

-1.58%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,345 $1,345

53.34%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$11.8K $11.8K

233.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$63.4 $63.4

1.50%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$49.64 $49.64

5.54%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$74 $74

28.63%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$142 $142

1.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$1,624 $1,624

46.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,334 $1,334

18.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$2,583 $2,583

84.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$2,182 $2,182

29.00%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$2,965 $2,965

21.00%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$2,356 $2,356

5.68%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.61

-0.15%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Austin, MN: October 28, 2025

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