Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Cabot, AR Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Cabot, AR

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,084 in Chicago, IL versus $2,541 in Cabot, AR.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,637 in Chicago, IL versus $3,696 in Cabot, AR.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,191 in Chicago, IL versus $4,851 in Cabot, AR.

Living in Chicago, IL is roughly 21% more expensive than in Cabot, AR, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 131% above, Cabot, AR 90% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.81 $20.81

$12.11 $12.11

71.84%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.6 $98.6

$74.4 $74.4

32.55%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.90 $11.90

$12.56 $12.56

-5.25%

Cappuccino

$5.84 $5.84

$5.02 $5.02

16.33%

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

$3.07 $3.07

$2.57 $2.57

19.46%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.95 $1.95

20.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.87 $6.87

$5.91 $5.91

16.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.07 $8.07

$7.13 $7.13

13.18%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$0.97 $0.97

8.25%

White Bread (500g)

$3.98 $3.98

$3.49 $3.49

14.04%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.60 $5.60

$2.65 $2.65

111.32%

Eggs

$4.55 $4.55

$4.29 $4.29

6.06%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.20 $14.20

$12.20 $12.20

16.39%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.90 $14.90

$11.53 $11.53

29.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.08 $19.08

$15.31 $15.31

24.62%

Apples (1kg)

$5.31 $5.31

$5.05 $5.05

5.15%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.62 $1.62

5.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.24 $4.24

$4.14 $4.14

2.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.37 $4.37

$4.41 $4.41

-0.91%

Potato (1kg)

$2.56 $2.56

$2.88 $2.88

-11.11%

Onion (1kg)

$2.80 $2.80

$2.88 $2.88

-2.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.12 $2.12

16.51%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.70 $2.70

$2.17 $2.17

24.42%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.95 $14.95

$9.75 $9.75

53.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.73 $14.73

$16.92 $16.92

-12.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.37 $2.37

$1.80 $1.80

31.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.57 $3.57

$3.32 $3.32

7.53%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.44 $2.44

$1.97 $1.97

23.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.2 $75.2

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.35 $3.35

$3.56 $3.56

-5.90%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.37 $1.37

$1.66 $1.66

-17.47%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.29 $25.29

$28.71 $28.71

-11.91%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.85 $0.85

28.24%

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

$32.3K $32.3K

$29.8K $29.8K

8.35%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$25.6K $25.6K

3.24%

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

$188 $188

$190 $190

-0.92%

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

$63.3 $63.3

$53.4 $53.4

18.49%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.2 $66.2

$66.8 $66.8

-0.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.6 $75.6

$42.30 $42.30

78.63%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.20 $13.20

Cinema Ticket

$14.80 $14.80

$13.33 $13.33

11.03%

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

$2,097 $2,097

$1,278 $1,278

64.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$38.5K $38.5K

$23.3K $23.3K

65.10%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.9 $64.9

$50.4 $50.4

28.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.6 $51.6

$39.45 $39.45

30.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.3 $96.3

$86.9 $86.9

10.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$146 $146

$114 $114

28.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,332 $2,332

$1,617 $1,617

44.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,579 $1,579

$1,367 $1,367

15.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,775 $4,775

$2,594 $2,594

84.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,725 $2,725

$2,230 $2,230

22.18%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,023 $4,023

$2,692 $2,692

49.45%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,684 $2,684

$2,348 $2,348

14.32%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,981 $4,981

$3,037 $3,037

64.00%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.51

1.38%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: July 20, 2026

Last update for Cabot, AR: July 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,332 in Chicago, IL and $1,617 in Cabot, AR. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chicago, IL pays 64% 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 $74.0 in Cabot, AR for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $445 vs $385 per month, with Cabot, AR 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 Cabot, AR: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Cabot, AR is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 21% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 64% 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: $2,332 in Chicago, IL versus $1,617 in Cabot, AR. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $2,097 in Chicago, IL versus $1,278 in Cabot, AR. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Cabot, AR – a meal for two runs $74.0 versus $99.0 in Chicago, IL. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Cabot, AR is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

For families, Cabot, AR is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Chicago, IL, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Chicago, IL and Cabot, AR are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Cabot, AR gentler on the wallet – expenses run 21% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.