Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Boise, ID Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Boise, ID

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 17.1% more expensive than Boise, ID without rent, and 16.1% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 21.4% more expensive than Boise, ID without rent, and 31.8% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$19.82 $19.82

5.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$63.9 $63.9

56.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$11.19 $11.19

6.97%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$6.52 $6.52

-14.72%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.56 $2.56

21.48%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.18 $2.18

11.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$6.91 $6.91

-0.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$7.19 $7.19

17.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$0.86 $0.86

20.93%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$3.55 $3.55

16.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$5.21 $5.21

5.95%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$3.91 $3.91

18.93%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$12.95 $12.95

10.66%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$8.51 $8.51

74.85%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$13.31 $13.31

45.30%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$4.93 $4.93

4.87%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.61 $1.61

6.21%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$3.63 $3.63

21.49%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$4.95 $4.95

-8.89%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.42 $2.42

4.55%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.18 $2.18

25.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.97 $1.97

23.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$2.17 $2.17

24.42%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$8.44 $8.44

79.98%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$14.76 $14.76

11.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.83 $1.83

28.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$2.53 $2.53

46.25%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.46 $1.46

73.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

$42.14 $42.14

75.91%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$2.64 $2.64

26.52%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.47 $1.47

-3.40%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$23.97 $23.97

6.05%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.94 $0.94

14.89%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$34.1K $34.1K

-4.88%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$25.5K $25.5K

2.71%

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

$188 $188

$135 $135

39.59%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$49.59 $49.59

28.45%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$71.2 $71.2

-8.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$39.18 $39.18

95.81%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

$37.03 $37.03

-64.81%

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$12.31 $12.31

21.28%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,220 $1,220

68.99%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$23.3K $23.3K

68.32%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$60 $60

7.27%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$34.14 $34.14

53.46%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$90.1 $90.1

5.67%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$97.3 $97.3

48.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$1,604 $1,604

48.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,344 $1,344

17.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$2,459 $2,459

93.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$1,976 $1,976

42.48%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$3,443 $3,443

4.21%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$3,102 $3,102

-19.72%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$4,270 $4,270

23.54%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.58

0.30%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Boise, ID: October 27, 2025

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