Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Boulder, CO Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Boulder, CO

🙂 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 5.1% cheaper than Boulder, CO without rent, and 10.5% cheaper with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 21.4% more expensive than Boulder, CO without rent, and 1.4% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$19.77 $19.77

5.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$69.7 $69.7

43.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$11.2 $11.2

6.88%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$5.92 $5.92

-6.08%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$3.22 $3.22

-3.42%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$6.23 $6.23

10.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$7.05 $7.05

19.86%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$0.99 $0.99

5.05%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$3.56 $3.56

16.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$4.44 $4.44

24.32%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$5.63 $5.63

-17.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$13.09 $13.09

9.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$14.99 $14.99

-0.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$17.44 $17.44

10.89%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$4.56 $4.56

13.38%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.5 $1.5

14.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$3.78 $3.78

16.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$4.68 $4.68

-3.63%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.63 $2.63

-3.80%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.7 $2.7

1.48%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.25 $2.25

8.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$2.21 $2.21

22.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$9.87 $9.87

53.90%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$17.07 $17.07

-3.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.9 $1.9

23.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$3.84 $3.84

-3.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.71 $2.71

-6.64%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

$152 $152

-51.16%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$2.45 $2.45

36.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.36 $1.36

4.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$24.18 $24.18

5.13%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.84 $0.84

28.57%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$26.9K $26.9K

20.41%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$25.5K $25.5K

2.87%

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

$188 $188

$195 $195

-3.38%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$60.5 $60.5

5.34%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$71.4 $71.4

-8.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$80.5 $80.5

-4.65%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

$20.25 $20.25

-35.65%

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$16.34 $16.34

-8.63%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,456 $1,456

41.63%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$31.2K $31.2K

25.42%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$72.7 $72.7

-11.58%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$37.25 $37.25

40.64%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$90.4 $90.4

5.36%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$101 $101

42.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$2,117 $2,117

12.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,875 $1,875

-15.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$3,952 $3,952

20.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$2,814 $2,814

0.02%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$5,025 $5,025

-28.60%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$4,384 $4,384

-43.20%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$5,221 $5,221

1.03%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.42

2.80%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Boulder, CO: October 29, 2025

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