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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,117 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,636 in Boise, ID, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,695 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,674 in Boise, ID, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,273 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,712 in Boise, ID, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 18% more than Boise, ID, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chicago, IL and Boise, ID sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 128%, Boise, ID by 93%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.92 $19.92

$20.13 $20.13

-1.04%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.5 $88.5

$70.3 $70.3

25.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.94 $12.94

$12.95 $12.95

-0.08%

Cappuccino

$5.54 $5.54

$6.17 $6.17

-10.21%

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

$2.74 $2.74

$2.62 $2.62

4.58%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 $2.36

$1.99 $1.99

18.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.12 $7.12

$6.84 $6.84

4.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.73 $8.73

$6.45 $6.45

35.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$0.93 $0.93

44.09%

White Bread (500g)

$4.17 $4.17

$3.76 $3.76

10.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.73 $5.73

$6.02 $6.02

-4.82%

Eggs

$4.89 $4.89

$4.45 $4.45

9.89%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.77 $14.77

$15.67 $15.67

-5.74%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.85 $14.85

$10.93 $10.93

35.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.61 $19.61

$17.18 $17.18

14.14%

Apples (1kg)

$5.57 $5.57

$4.77 $4.77

16.77%

Banana (1kg)

$1.92 $1.92

$1.78 $1.78

7.87%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.17 $4.17

$3.91 $3.91

6.65%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.86 $4.86

$4.83 $4.83

0.62%

Potato (1kg)

$2.84 $2.84

$2.78 $2.78

2.16%

Onion (1kg)

$2.80 $2.80

$2.61 $2.61

7.28%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.20 $2.20

$2.39 $2.39

-7.95%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.06 $3.06

$2.46 $2.46

24.39%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$16.16 $16.16

$9.28 $9.28

74.14%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.82 $14.82

$15.38 $15.38

-3.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.12 $2.12

19.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.35 $3.35

$3.21 $3.21

4.36%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.55 $2.55

$1.53 $1.53

66.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.6 $75.6

$42.46 $42.46

77.98%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.30 $3.30

$2.57 $2.57

28.40%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.36 $1.36

$1.51 $1.51

-9.93%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.12 $25.12

$24.33 $24.33

3.25%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.17 $1.17

$1.09 $1.09

7.34%

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

$36.0K $36.0K

$36.4K $36.4K

-1.03%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$25.2K $25.2K

3.92%

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

$191 $191

$174 $174

9.83%

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

$67.9 $67.9

$60.6 $60.6

12.13%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.7 $61.7

$72.2 $72.2

-14.60%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.5 $63.5

$39.12 $39.12

62.24%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.14 $27.14

$37.26 $37.26

-27.16%

Cinema Ticket

$18.02 $18.02

$12.68 $12.68

42.11%

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

$1,522 $1,522

$975 $975

56.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.3K $31.3K

$24.5K $24.5K

27.90%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.7 $63.7

$54.7 $54.7

16.46%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.3 $55.3

$41.42 $41.42

33.39%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100 $100

$88.6 $88.6

13.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$153 $153

$108 $108

41.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,406 $2,406

$1,604 $1,604

49.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,653 $1,653

$1,306 $1,306

26.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,577 $4,577

$2,430 $2,430

88.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,771 $2,771

$1,852 $1,852

49.61%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,031 $4,031

$7,305 $7,305

-44.82%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,745 $2,745

$3,085 $3,085

-11.00%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,804 $4,804

$4,262 $4,262

12.73%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.38

6.08

4.93%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: September 13, 2026

Last update for Boise, ID: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,406 in Chicago, IL versus $1,604 in Boise, ID. 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 13% 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 $88.0 in Chicago, IL versus $70.0 in Boise, ID. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $464 vs $417 – making Boise, ID 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 Boise, ID: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chicago, IL costs about 18% more than Boise, ID, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,676 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,954 in Boise, ID. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $1,522 per month in Chicago, IL and $975 in Boise, ID. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 11% 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.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,117 in Chicago, IL and $2,636 in Boise, ID. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Boise, ID costs $2,636 versus $3,117 in Chicago, IL. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

If budget matters most, go with Boise, ID. 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.