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 36.2% more expensive than Bowling Green, KY without rent, and 48.2% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 37.1% more expensive than Bowling Green, KY without rent, and 48.2% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.53 $20.53

$11.32 $11.32

81.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$102 $102

$55.8 $55.8

82.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.03 $12.03

$10.19 $10.19

18.06%

Cappuccino

$5.62 $5.62

$5.02 $5.02

11.95%

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

$3.07 $3.07

$2.26 $2.26

35.84%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.80 $1.80

34.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.98 $6.98

$4.01 $4.01

74.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.10 $8.10

$5.95 $5.95

36.13%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.66 $0.66

63.64%

White Bread (500g)

$3.95 $3.95

$2.20 $2.20

79.55%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$2.25 $2.25

145.33%

Eggs

$4.55 $4.55

$2.96 $2.96

53.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.58 $14.58

$10.15 $10.15

43.65%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.91 $14.91

$8.67 $8.67

71.97%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.83 $18.83

$15.13 $15.13

24.45%

Apples (1kg)

$5.34 $5.34

$4.74 $4.74

12.66%

Banana (1kg)

$1.76 $1.76

$1.30 $1.30

35.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.39 $4.39

$2.02 $2.02

117.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.37 $4.37

$4.36 $4.36

0.23%

Potato (1kg)

$2.55 $2.55

$3.21 $3.21

-20.56%

Onion (1kg)

$2.78 $2.78

$3.18 $3.18

-12.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.46 $2.46

$1.89 $1.89

30.16%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.66 $2.66

$1.75 $1.75

52.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.74 $14.74

$8.05 $8.05

83.11%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.17 $15.17

$12.76 $12.76

18.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.45 $2.45

$1.70 $1.70

44.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.68 $3.68

$1.76 $1.76

109.09%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.52 $2.52

$3.40 $3.40

-25.88%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.5 $74.5

$40.72 $40.72

83.03%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.29 $3.29

$4.88 $4.88

-32.58%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.43 $1.43

$1.21 $1.21

18.18%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.86 $24.86

$25.26 $25.26

-1.58%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.84 $0.84

29.76%

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

$31.3K $31.3K

$23.3K $23.3K

34.73%

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

$26.8K $26.8K

$26.0K $26.0K

3.09%

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

$187 $187

$161 $161

16.22%

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

$62.4 $62.4

$42.49 $42.49

46.76%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.1 $67.1

$64.2 $64.2

4.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.2 $75.2

$29.57 $29.57

154.21%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.17 $13.17

$12.18 $12.18

8.13%

Cinema Ticket

$15.21 $15.21

$15.12 $15.12

0.60%

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

$2,039 $2,039

$1,158 $1,158

76.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.3K $39.3K

$25.1K $25.1K

56.68%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.0 $64.0

$55.1 $55.1

16.16%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.6 $50.6

$35.41 $35.41

42.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.4 $95.4

$75.3 $75.3

26.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$144 $144

$73.9 $73.9

94.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,355 $2,355

$1,182 $1,182

99.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,613 $1,613

$1,022 $1,022

57.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,728 $4,728

$1,830 $1,830

158.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,754 $2,754

$1,861 $1,861

48.00%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,803 $3,803

$2,002 $2,002

89.94%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,580 $2,580

$2,004 $2,004

28.73%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,738 $4,738

$3,009 $3,009

57.47%

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: April 14, 2026

Last update for Bowling Green, KY: April 12, 2026

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 other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Copenhagen

🇩🇰 Denmark

Oslo

🇳🇴 Norway

Dallas, TX

🇺🇸 United States

Denver, CO

🇺🇸 United States

Portland, OR

🇺🇸 United States

Rotterdam

🇳🇱 Netherlands

Cork

🇮🇪 Ireland

Philadelphia, PA

🇺🇸 United States