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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,184 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,374 in Austin, MN, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,725 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,501 in Austin, MN, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,266 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,627 in Austin, MN, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 34% more than Austin, MN, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chicago, IL and Austin, MN sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 131%, Austin, MN by 72%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.26 $20.26

$12.73 $12.73

59.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.8 $88.8

$75.3 $75.3

17.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.16 $13.16

$10.16 $10.16

29.53%

Cappuccino

$5.77 $5.77

$4.26 $4.26

35.45%

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

$2.63 $2.63

$3.03 $3.03

-13.20%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 $2.34

$1.92 $1.92

21.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.06 $7.06

$3.95 $3.95

78.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.18 $9.18

$6.46 $6.46

42.11%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.30 $1.30

$0.87 $0.87

49.43%

White Bread (500g)

$4.05 $4.05

$2.95 $2.95

37.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.69 $5.69

$1.91 $1.91

197.91%

Eggs

$4.85 $4.85

$2.52 $2.52

92.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.08 $15.08

$12.66 $12.66

19.12%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.87 $14.87

$6.51 $6.51

128.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.28 $19.28

$17.08 $17.08

12.88%

Apples (1kg)

$5.68 $5.68

$4.23 $4.23

34.28%

Banana (1kg)

$1.93 $1.93

$1.18 $1.18

63.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.10 $4.10

$3.60 $3.60

13.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.11 $5.11

$1.69 $1.69

202.37%

Potato (1kg)

$2.92 $2.92

$2.19 $2.19

33.33%

Onion (1kg)

$2.77 $2.77

$2.88 $2.88

-3.82%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.30 $2.30

$1.46 $1.46

57.53%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.04 $3.04

$1.82 $1.82

67.03%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.93 $15.93

$9.66 $9.66

64.91%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.06 $15.06

$3.02 $3.02

398.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.78 $1.78

42.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.48 $3.48

$2.94 $2.94

18.37%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.79 $1.79

41.34%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.8 $74.8

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.28 $3.28

$3.78 $3.78

-13.23%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.36 $1.36

$1.66 $1.66

-18.07%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.55 $22.55

$35.02 $35.02

-35.61%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 $1.22

$0.89 $0.89

37.08%

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

$36.1K $36.1K

$35.5K $35.5K

1.82%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$24.4K $24.4K

6.29%

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

$188 $188

$253 $253

-25.50%

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

$69.0 $69.0

$44.99 $44.99

53.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.6 $63.6

$55.4 $55.4

14.79%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.4 $63.4

$40.66 $40.66

56.03%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.11 $27.11

Cinema Ticket

$17.90 $17.90

$12.36 $12.36

44.82%

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

$1,526 $1,526

$1,003 $1,003

52.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.9K $31.9K

$7,939 $7,939

301.66%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.1 $62.1

$33.44 $33.44

85.62%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$56.4 $56.4

$28.14 $28.14

100.36%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 $101

$122 $122

-17.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$156 $156

$138 $138

13.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,342 $2,342

$1,486 $1,486

57.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,698 $1,698

$1,316 $1,316

29.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,576 $4,576

$2,536 $2,536

80.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,806 $2,806

$2,107 $2,107

33.15%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,130 $4,130

$2,768 $2,768

49.19%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,740 $2,740

$2,602 $2,602

5.28%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,891 $4,891

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.38

6.24

2.24%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: September 6, 2026

Last update for Austin, MN: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,342 in Chicago, IL versus $1,486 in Austin, 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 $89.0 in Chicago, IL versus $75.0 in Austin, MN. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $465 vs $290 – making Austin, 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 Austin, MN: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Chicago, IL is pricier by about 34%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,776 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,561 in Austin, MN. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Austin, 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 $3,184 in Chicago, IL and $2,374 in Austin, MN. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $1,526 per month in Chicago, IL and $1,003 in Austin, MN. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Austin, MN, where all-in costs run around $2,374, than in Chicago, IL at $3,184. In Austin, MN it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chicago, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Austin, MN – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Austin, 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.