Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Bay Minette, AL Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Bay Minette, AL

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,117 in Chicago, IL versus $2,600 in Bay Minette, AL.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,695 in Chicago, IL versus $3,618 in Bay Minette, AL.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,273 in Chicago, IL versus $4,636 in Bay Minette, AL.

Living in Chicago, IL is roughly 20% more expensive than in Bay Minette, AL, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 128% above, Bay Minette, AL 90% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.92 $19.92

$15.92 $15.92

25.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.5 $88.5

$45.03 $45.03

96.51%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.94 $12.94

$12.05 $12.05

7.39%

Cappuccino

$5.54 $5.54

$5.40 $5.40

2.59%

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

$2.74 $2.74

$2.56 $2.56

7.03%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 $2.36

$0.78 $0.78

202.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.12 $7.12

$5.82 $5.82

22.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.73 $8.73

$7.84 $7.84

11.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$1.39 $1.39

-3.60%

White Bread (500g)

$4.17 $4.17

$2.68 $2.68

55.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.73 $5.73

$3.26 $3.26

75.77%

Eggs

$4.89 $4.89

$5.36 $5.36

-8.77%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.77 $14.77

$7.75 $7.75

90.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.85 $14.85

$9.01 $9.01

64.82%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.61 $19.61

$15.32 $15.32

28.00%

Apples (1kg)

$5.57 $5.57

$3.09 $3.09

80.26%

Banana (1kg)

$1.92 $1.92

$1.67 $1.67

14.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.17 $4.17

$5.24 $5.24

-20.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.86 $4.86

$5.37 $5.37

-9.50%

Potato (1kg)

$2.84 $2.84

$2.16 $2.16

31.48%

Onion (1kg)

$2.80 $2.80

$1.67 $1.67

67.66%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.20 $2.20

$2.18 $2.18

0.92%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.06 $3.06

$2.68 $2.68

14.18%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$16.16 $16.16

$8.82 $8.82

83.22%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.82 $14.82

$16.86 $16.86

-12.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.48 $2.48

2.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.35 $3.35

$4.01 $4.01

-16.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.55 $2.55

$2.25 $2.25

13.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.6 $75.6

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.30 $3.30

$3.46 $3.46

-4.62%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.36 $1.36

$1.51 $1.51

-9.93%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.12 $25.12

$35.37 $35.37

-28.98%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.17 $1.17

$0.89 $0.89

31.46%

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

$36.0K $36.0K

$35.9K $35.9K

0.20%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$25.7K $25.7K

2.02%

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

$191 $191

$265 $265

-27.83%

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

$67.9 $67.9

$72.5 $72.5

-6.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.7 $61.7

$71.1 $71.1

-13.20%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.5 $63.5

$47.34 $47.34

34.07%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.14 $27.14

Cinema Ticket

$18.02 $18.02

$12.43 $12.43

44.97%

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

$1,522 $1,522

$1,562 $1,562

-2.56%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.3K $31.3K

$10.1K $10.1K

210.52%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.7 $63.7

$39.37 $39.37

61.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.3 $55.3

$42.63 $42.63

29.60%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100 $100

$74.5 $74.5

34.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$153 $153

$89.8 $89.8

70.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,406 $2,406

$907 $907

165.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,653 $1,653

$1,306 $1,306

26.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,577 $4,577

$2,526 $2,526

81.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,771 $2,771

$2,149 $2,149

28.98%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,031 $4,031

$2,865 $2,865

40.70%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,745 $2,745

$2,374 $2,374

15.65%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,804 $4,804

$2,192 $2,192

119.15%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.38

6.07

5.11%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: September 13, 2026

Last update for Bay Minette, AL: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,406 in Chicago, IL and $907 in Bay Minette, AL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chicago, IL pays 119% 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: $88.0 in Chicago, IL vs $45.00 in Bay Minette, AL for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $464 vs $368 per month, with Bay Minette, 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 Bay Minette, AL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bay Minette, AL is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 20% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 119% higher in Chicago, IL, 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: $2,406 in Chicago, IL versus $907 in Bay Minette, AL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,522 in Chicago, IL versus $1,562 in Bay Minette, AL. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Bay Minette, AL – a meal for two runs $45.00 versus $88.0 in Chicago, IL. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,600 in Bay Minette, AL versus $3,117 in Chicago, IL, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Bay Minette, AL but tight or insufficient in Chicago, IL. The gap between the two cities makes Bay Minette, AL the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Bay Minette, AL is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Chicago, IL, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Expats usually find Bay Minette, AL gentler on the wallet – expenses run 20% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.