Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Campbellsville, KY Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Campbellsville, KY

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,051 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,241 in Campbellsville, KY, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,638 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,694 in Campbellsville, KY, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,224 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,146 in Campbellsville, KY, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 36% more than Campbellsville, KY, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chicago, IL and Campbellsville, KY sit above the global median โ€“ Chicago, IL by 128%, Campbellsville, KY by 67%.

Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Campbellsville, KY
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.67 $20.67
$15.19 $15.19
36.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$59.2 $59.2
69.70%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.86 $11.86
$8.22 $8.22
44.28%
Cappuccino
$5.54 $5.54
$4.29 $4.29
29.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.06 $3.06
$1.53 $1.53
100.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48 $2.48
$0.99 $0.99
150.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.92 $6.92
$3.97 $3.97
74.31%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.13 $8.13
$4.12 $4.12
97.33%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Campbellsville, KY
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$0.76 $0.76
36.84%
White Bread (500g)
$3.91 $3.91
$2.13 $2.13
83.57%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.42 $5.42
$3.79 $3.79
43.01%
Eggs
$4.48 $4.48
$3.31 $3.31
35.35%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.52 $14.52
$10.15 $10.15
43.05%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.21 $15.21
$9.04 $9.04
68.25%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.25 $19.25
$15.45 $15.45
24.60%
Apples (1kg)
$5.39 $5.39
$4.65 $4.65
15.91%
Banana (1kg)
$1.69 $1.69
$1.38 $1.38
22.46%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.32 $4.32
$4.00 $4.00
8.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$5.01 $5.01
-9.98%
Potato (1kg)
$2.56 $2.56
$2.09 $2.09
22.49%
Onion (1kg)
$2.70 $2.70
$2.91 $2.91
-7.22%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.41 $2.41
$1.81 $1.81
33.15%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.62 $2.62
$1.39 $1.39
88.49%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.02 $15.02
$7.93 $7.93
89.41%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.71 $14.71
$14.80 $14.80
-0.61%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.48 $2.48
$2.08 $2.08
19.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.69 $3.69
$1.79 $1.79
106.15%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Campbellsville, KY
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.55 $2.55
$1.95 $1.95
30.77%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$75.5 $75.5
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.29 $3.29
$3.73 $3.73
-11.80%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.43 $1.43
$1.57 $1.57
-8.92%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$24.72 $24.72
$24.80 $24.80
-0.32%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.09 $1.09
$0.78 $0.78
39.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.8K $31.8K
$22.0K $22.0K
44.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.4K $26.4K
$25.1K $25.1K
5.27%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Campbellsville, KY
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$183 $183
$75.7 $75.7
142.20%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$61.8 $61.8
$56.7 $56.7
8.99%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.0 $65.0
$25.06 $25.06
159.54%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Campbellsville, KY
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.1 $76.1
$42.47 $42.47
79.14%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.04 $13.04
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.75 $14.75
$10.16 $10.16
45.18%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Campbellsville, KY
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,056 $2,056
$1,585 $1,585
29.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$38.5K $38.5K
$17.7K $17.7K
117.71%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Campbellsville, KY
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.9 $63.9
$29.96 $29.96
113.38%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.6 $51.6
$39.26 $39.26
31.41%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$97.3 $97.3
$89.4 $89.4
8.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$147 $147
$99.6 $99.6
47.80%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Campbellsville, KY
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,349 $2,349
$659 $659
256.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,581 $1,581
$1,352 $1,352
16.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,708 $4,708
$980 $980
380.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,716 $2,716
$947 $947
186.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,976 $3,976
$2,909 $2,909
36.69%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,632 $2,632
$2,081 $2,081
26.46%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Campbellsville, KY
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,723 $4,723
$3,153 $3,153
49.82%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.54
0.92%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chicago, IL: April 20, 2026

Last update for Campbellsville, KY: April 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,349 in Chicago, IL versus $659 in Campbellsville, KY. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 50% higher in Chicago, IL, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $100 in Chicago, IL versus $59 in Campbellsville, KY. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $447 vs $331 โ€“ making Campbellsville, KY the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Campbellsville, KY: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chicago, IL or Campbellsville, KY?
Chicago, IL costs about 36% more than Campbellsville, KY, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Chicago, IL vs Campbellsville, KY?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,577 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,362 in Campbellsville, KY. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled โ€“ not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chicago, IL or Campbellsville, KY?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Campbellsville, KY, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Chicago, IL compared to Campbellsville, KY?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,051 in Chicago, IL and $2,241 in Campbellsville, KY. The difference isn't just one category โ€“ it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do childcare costs compare in Chicago, IL and Campbellsville, KY?
Kindergarten costs $2,056 per month in Chicago, IL and $1,585 in Campbellsville, KY. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Chicago, IL or Campbellsville, KY?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Campbellsville, KY, where all-in costs run around $2,241, than in Chicago, IL at $3,051. In Campbellsville, KY it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chicago, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chicago, IL or Campbellsville, KY?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Campbellsville, KY costs $2,241 versus $3,051 in Chicago, IL. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Should I move to Chicago, IL or Campbellsville, KY?
If budget matters most, go with Campbellsville, KY. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chicago, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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