Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Bowling Green, KY Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Bowling Green, KY

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 42.1% more expensive than Bowling Green, KY without rent, and 45.8% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 68.5% more expensive than Bowling Green, KY without rent, and 49.1% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$11.4 $11.4

82.63%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$54.3 $54.3

84.92%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$9.99 $9.99

19.82%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$4.8 $4.8

15.83%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.3 $2.3

35.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.82 $1.82

32.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$4.07 $4.07

68.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$6.04 $6.04

39.90%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$0.66 $0.66

57.58%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$2.25 $2.25

84.44%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$2.26 $2.26

144.25%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$2.85 $2.85

63.16%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$10.07 $10.07

42.30%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$9.02 $9.02

64.97%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$14.63 $14.63

32.19%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$4.65 $4.65

11.18%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.24 $1.24

37.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$2.02 $2.02

118.32%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$4.34 $4.34

3.92%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$3.26 $3.26

-22.39%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$3.32 $3.32

-17.47%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.91 $1.91

27.23%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$1.75 $1.75

54.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$8.01 $8.01

89.64%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$10.59 $10.59

55.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.71 $1.71

37.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$1.8 $1.8

105.56%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$3.59 $3.59

-29.53%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

$40.07 $40.07

85.00%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$4.99 $4.99

-33.07%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.21 $1.21

17.36%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$25.44 $25.44

-0.08%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.79 $0.79

36.71%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$23.1K $23.1K

40.61%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$25.9K $25.9K

1.04%

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

$188 $188

$162 $162

16.19%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$42.24 $42.24

50.80%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$64.9 $64.9

0.48%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$30.37 $30.37

152.62%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

$12.06 $12.06

8.04%

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$14.78 $14.78

1.01%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,153 $1,153

78.84%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$24.5K $24.5K

59.86%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$54.8 $54.8

17.33%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$35.69 $35.69

46.79%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$74.5 $74.5

27.87%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$74.7 $74.7

93.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$1,156 $1,156

105.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$999 $999

58.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$1,853 $1,853

157.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$1,866 $1,866

50.82%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$2,011 $2,011

78.42%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$1,965 $1,965

26.73%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$2,869 $2,869

83.85%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.53

1.07%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Bowling Green, KY: October 28, 2025

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