Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Bullhead City, AZ Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Bullhead City, AZ

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,068 in Chicago, IL versus $2,143 in Bullhead City, AZ.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,648 in Chicago, IL versus $3,469 in Bullhead City, AZ.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,229 in Chicago, IL versus $4,795 in Bullhead City, AZ.

Living in Chicago, IL is roughly 43% more expensive than in Bullhead City, AZ, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 130% above, Bullhead City, AZ 60% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.17 $20.17

$23.37 $23.37

-13.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.5 $99.5

$58.9 $58.9

68.87%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.23 $12.23

$10.60 $10.60

15.38%

Cappuccino

$5.60 $5.60

$4.81 $4.81

16.42%

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

$3.12 $3.12

$2.45 $2.45

27.35%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.14 $2.14

13.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.93 $6.93

$5.85 $5.85

18.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.20 $8.20

$7.94 $7.94

3.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.94 $0.94

14.89%

White Bread (500g)

$3.97 $3.97

$3.83 $3.83

3.66%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.58 $5.58

$2.16 $2.16

158.33%

Eggs

$4.47 $4.47

$4.15 $4.15

7.71%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.50 $14.50

$12.18 $12.18

19.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.08 $15.08

$7.71 $7.71

95.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$12.13 $12.13

59.44%

Apples (1kg)

$5.37 $5.37

$4.07 $4.07

31.94%

Banana (1kg)

$1.76 $1.76

$1.56 $1.56

12.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.32 $4.32

$2.49 $2.49

73.49%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$3.27 $3.27

34.86%

Potato (1kg)

$2.54 $2.54

$2.24 $2.24

13.39%

Onion (1kg)

$2.70 $2.70

$2.38 $2.38

13.45%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.49 $2.49

$1.67 $1.67

49.10%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.60 $2.60

$2.08 $2.08

25.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.80 $14.80

$9.24 $9.24

60.17%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.18 $15.18

$10.15 $10.15

49.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$1.89 $1.89

30.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.60 $3.60

$2.13 $2.13

69.01%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.54 $2.54

$2.03 $2.03

25.12%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$76.3 $76.3

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.30 $3.30

$3.57 $3.57

-7.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.38 $1.38

$1.81 $1.81

-23.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.36 $25.36

$32.59 $32.59

-22.18%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$1.02 $1.02

6.86%

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

$31.6K $31.6K

$25.4K $25.4K

24.66%

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

$26.6K $26.6K

$25.9K $25.9K

2.50%

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

$186 $186

$246 $246

-24.42%

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

$62.9 $62.9

$70.7 $70.7

-11.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.2 $66.2

$55.8 $55.8

18.73%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$77.6 $77.6

$27.94 $27.94

177.81%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.16 $13.16

Cinema Ticket

$14.74 $14.74

$8.97 $8.97

64.33%

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

$2,039 $2,039

$1,204 $1,204

69.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.9K $39.9K

$13.5K $13.5K

195.00%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.9 $63.9

$33.08 $33.08

93.02%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.2 $51.2

$40.96 $40.96

24.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$72.1 $72.1

32.12%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$144 $144

$90.8 $90.8

58.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,305 $2,305

$1,085 $1,085

112.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,575 $1,575

$981 $981

60.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,688 $4,688

$2,136 $2,136

119.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,737 $2,737

$2,211 $2,211

23.81%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,063 $4,063

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,696 $2,696

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,019 $5,019

$3,429 $3,429

46.36%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.5

1.54%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: July 11, 2026

Last update for Bullhead City, AZ: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,305 in Chicago, IL and $1,085 in Bullhead City, AZ. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chicago, IL pays 46% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $99.0 in Chicago, IL vs $59.0 in Bullhead City, AZ for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $448 vs $318 per month, with Bullhead City, AZ cheaper across the board.

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 Bullhead City, AZ: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bullhead City, AZ wins on cost – living expenses run 43% lower than in Chicago, IL. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Bullhead City, AZ the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 46% higher in Chicago, IL, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,305 in Chicago, IL versus $1,085 in Bullhead City, AZ. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 41% higher in Chicago, IL. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $3,068 per month in Chicago, IL versus $2,143 in Bullhead City, AZ – a 43% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,143 in Bullhead City, AZ versus $3,068 in Chicago, IL, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Bullhead City, AZ but tight or insufficient in Chicago, IL. The gap between the two cities makes Bullhead City, AZ the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Bullhead City, AZ delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,143 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Bullhead City, AZ hard to pass up.

Expats usually find Bullhead City, AZ gentler on the wallet – expenses run 43% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.