Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Bellevue, NE Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Bellevue, NE

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,111 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,330 in Bellevue, NE, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,680 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,512 in Bellevue, NE, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,249 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,694 in Bellevue, NE, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 33% more than Bellevue, NE, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chicago, IL and Bellevue, NE sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 131%, Bellevue, NE by 73%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.39 $20.39

$19.81 $19.81

2.93%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.2 $98.2

$73.6 $73.6

33.51%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.07 $12.07

$11.90 $11.90

1.43%

Cappuccino

$5.73 $5.73

$5.22 $5.22

9.77%

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

$2.97 $2.97

$2.49 $2.49

19.28%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$1.93 $1.93

27.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.99 $6.99

$5.09 $5.09

37.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.21 $8.21

$6.91 $6.91

18.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$0.91 $0.91

15.38%

White Bread (500g)

$4.08 $4.08

$3.14 $3.14

29.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.50 $5.50

$4.47 $4.47

23.04%

Eggs

$4.64 $4.64

$3.55 $3.55

30.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.40 $14.40

$11.51 $11.51

25.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.20 $15.20

$10.63 $10.63

42.99%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.28 $19.28

$15.29 $15.29

26.10%

Apples (1kg)

$5.14 $5.14

$4.53 $4.53

13.47%

Banana (1kg)

$1.76 $1.76

$1.51 $1.51

16.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.34 $4.34

$5.85 $5.85

-25.81%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.36 $4.36

$5.05 $5.05

-13.66%

Potato (1kg)

$2.44 $2.44

$1.89 $1.89

29.10%

Onion (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$2.71 $2.71

2.95%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.52 $2.52

$2.23 $2.23

13.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.66 $2.66

$2.52 $2.52

5.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.90 $14.90

$7.91 $7.91

88.37%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.97 $14.97

$15.49 $15.49

-3.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.45 $2.45

$1.95 $1.95

25.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.54 $3.54

$5.31 $5.31

-33.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.54 $2.54

-4.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.5 $74.5

$79.6 $79.6

-6.31%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.32 $3.32

$3.02 $3.02

9.93%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.38 $1.38

$1.35 $1.35

2.22%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.11 $25.11

$21.09 $21.09

19.06%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.81 $0.81

34.57%

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

$31.9K $31.9K

$35.7K $35.7K

-10.73%

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

$26.8K $26.8K

$26.3K $26.3K

1.98%

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

$187 $187

$217 $217

-13.85%

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

$63.5 $63.5

$61.1 $61.1

3.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.5 $65.5

$65.8 $65.8

-0.49%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.7 $75.7

$35.66 $35.66

112.25%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.05 $13.05

$39.80 $39.80

-67.21%

Cinema Ticket

$14.80 $14.80

$14.78 $14.78

0.14%

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

$2,025 $2,025

$934 $934

116.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.0K $39.0K

$25.1K $25.1K

55.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.2 $64.2

$56.3 $56.3

13.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.7 $51.7

$41.98 $41.98

23.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.6 $95.6

$99.6 $99.6

-4.00%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$120 $120

21.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,326 $2,326

$1,211 $1,211

92.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,611 $1,611

$983 $983

63.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,703 $4,703

$1,778 $1,778

164.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,721 $2,721

$1,705 $1,705

59.57%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,829 $3,829

$2,734 $2,734

40.06%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,533 $2,533

$2,951 $2,951

-14.17%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,100 $5,100

$4,375 $4,375

16.56%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.5

1.54%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: June 7, 2026

Last update for Bellevue, NE: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,326 in Chicago, IL versus $1,211 in Bellevue, NE. 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 17% 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 $98.0 in Chicago, IL versus $74.0 in Bellevue, NE. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $448 vs $388 – making Bellevue, NE 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 Bellevue, NE: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,111 in Chicago, IL, $2,330 in Bellevue, NE – roughly 33% apart. Chicago, IL costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,666 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,496 in Bellevue, NE. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Bellevue, NE, 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 $98.0 in Chicago, IL and $74.0 in Bellevue, NE. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,111 in Chicago, IL and $2,330 in Bellevue, NE. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Bellevue, NE, where all-in costs run around $2,330, than in Chicago, IL at $3,111. In Bellevue, NE it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chicago, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,330 in Bellevue, NE to $3,111 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Bellevue, NE. 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.