Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Batavia, IL

For one person, living is cheaper in Batavia, IL: $2,260 a month against $3,139 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $10,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

152

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
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Chicago, IL Living Index
118

Cost of Living Index in Batavia, IL
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Batavia, IL Living Index

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Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,139

/mo nomad

Batavia, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$2,260

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chicago, IL and in Batavia, IL

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chicago, IL and in Batavia, IL actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,139 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,260 in Batavia, IL, rent included.

Chicago, IL $3,139
Batavia, IL $2,260

A couple spends around $4,627 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,570 in Batavia, IL, rent included.

Chicago, IL $4,627
Batavia, IL $3,570

A family of three spends $6,115 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,881 in Batavia, IL, rent included.

Chicago, IL $6,115
Batavia, IL $4,881

Chicago, IL costs about 39% more than Batavia, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chicago, IL and Batavia, IL sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 132%, Batavia, IL by 67%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.65 $20.65

$15.42 $15.42

33.92%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$90.2 $90.2

$70.4 $70.4

28.20%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.94 $12.94

$12.73 $12.73

1.65%

Cappuccino

$5.60 $5.60

$5.89 $5.89

-4.92%

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

$2.64 $2.64

$3.07 $3.07

-14.01%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.27 $2.27

$2.25 $2.25

0.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.98 $6.98

$6.87 $6.87

1.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.83 $8.83

$8.68 $8.68

1.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 $1.27

$0.83 $0.83

53.01%

White Bread (500g)

$3.80 $3.80

$2.76 $2.76

37.68%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.30 $5.30

$2.92 $2.92

81.51%

Eggs

$4.76 $4.76

$3.61 $3.61

31.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.96 $13.96

$7.78 $7.78

79.43%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.61 $14.61

$11.46 $11.46

27.49%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.77 $18.77

$10.32 $10.32

81.88%

Apples (1kg)

$5.19 $5.19

$4.73 $4.73

9.73%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.57 $1.57

26.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.93 $3.93

$3.43 $3.43

14.58%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.96 $4.96

Potato (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$1.76 $1.76

56.82%

Onion (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$2.96 $2.96

-6.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.22 $2.22

$1.63 $1.63

36.20%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.98 $2.98

$2.43 $2.43

22.63%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.02 $14.02

$10.83 $10.83

29.46%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.28 $15.28

$8.19 $8.19

86.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$1.71 $1.71

50.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.50 $3.50

$4.55 $4.55

-23.08%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.47 $2.47

$1.84 $1.84

34.24%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.8 $74.8

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$3.94 $3.94

-15.23%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.43 $1.43

$1.99 $1.99

-28.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.32 $24.32

$43.91 $43.91

-44.61%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 $1.26

$1.03 $1.03

22.33%

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

$35.0K $35.0K

$24.6K $24.6K

42.14%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$26.0K $26.0K

0.23%

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

$193 $193

$172 $172

11.74%

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

$68.3 $68.3

$51.0 $51.0

33.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.3 $61.3

$51.6 $51.6

18.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.1 $54.1

$36.45 $36.45

48.48%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.92 $27.92

Cinema Ticket

$17.74 $17.74

$11.85 $11.85

49.70%

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

$1,652 $1,652

$1,472 $1,472

12.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.1K $31.1K

$23.1K $23.1K

34.69%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.1 $66.1

$57.6 $57.6

14.65%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.2 $51.2

$50.0 $50.0

2.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100 $100

$87.9 $87.9

13.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$141 $141

$124 $124

13.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,446 $2,446

$1,600 $1,600

52.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,678 $1,678

$1,128 $1,128

48.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,717 $4,717

$2,619 $2,619

80.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,795 $2,795

$2,361 $2,361

18.40%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,105 $4,105

$2,917 $2,917

40.75%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,650 $2,650

$2,563 $2,563

3.39%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,866 $4,866

$1,961 $1,961

148.12%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.81

6.43

5.91%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 19, 2026

Last update for Batavia, IL: October 18, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Chicago, IL

$1.7K 53.5%

Batavia, IL

$1.1K 49.9% 32.8% $550

Groceries & Markets

Chicago, IL

$449 14.3%

Batavia, IL

$326 14.4% 27.4% $123

Eating Out

Chicago, IL

$343 10.9%

Batavia, IL

$305 13.5% 11.1% $38

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chicago, IL

$322 10.3%

Batavia, IL

$275 12.2% 14.6% $47

Clothing & Footwear

Chicago, IL

$161 5.1%

Batavia, IL

$144 6.4% 10.8% $17

Getting Around

Chicago, IL

$95 3%

Batavia, IL

$21 * 0.9% 77.7% $74

Sport & Entertainment

Chicago, IL

$90 2.9%

Batavia, IL

$60 2.7% 32.9% $29

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,446 in Chicago, IL versus $1,600 in Batavia, IL. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 148% higher in Chicago, IL, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $90.0 in Chicago, IL versus $70.0 in Batavia, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $449 vs $326 – making Batavia, IL the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 Batavia, IL

🕒 Local time

21:34 9:34 PM

Same time as Chicago, IL

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

2,746,388

15,600

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

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Between locations

Chicago, IL Batavia, IL 57 km

From you

Chicago, IL
Batavia, IL

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Batavia, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Chicago, IL is pricier by about 39%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,708 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,390 in Batavia, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Batavia, IL, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $90.0 in Chicago, IL and $70.0 in Batavia, IL. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 38% more in Chicago, IL, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,139 in Chicago, IL and $2,260 in Batavia, IL. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Batavia, IL – 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 Batavia, IL. 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.