Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Carbondale, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Carbondale, IL

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 49.1% more expensive than Carbondale, IL without rent, and 27.1% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 45.5% more expensive than Carbondale, IL without rent, and 36.7% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Carbondale, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$16.71 $16.71
24.60%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$31.36 $31.36
219.96%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$7.93 $7.93
50.95%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$3.06 $3.06
81.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.03 $2.03
53.20%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$1.53 $1.53
58.17%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$4.61 $4.61
48.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$5.34 $5.34
58.24%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Carbondale, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$0.81 $0.81
28.40%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$2.89 $2.89
43.60%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$4.42 $4.42
24.89%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$4.01 $4.01
15.96%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$11.37 $11.37
26.03%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$10.98 $10.98
35.52%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$15.63 $15.63
23.74%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$6.26 $6.26
-17.41%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.56 $1.56
9.62%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$5.25 $5.25
-16.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$4.92 $4.92
-8.33%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$4.96 $4.96
-48.99%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$3.54 $3.54
-22.60%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.33 $2.33
4.29%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.43 $2.43
11.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$7.87 $7.87
93.01%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$14.61 $14.61
12.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.76 $1.76
33.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$1.86 $1.86
98.92%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Carbondale, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.03 $2.03
24.63%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$2.02 $2.02
65.35%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.34 $1.34
5.97%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$19.84 $19.84
28.13%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.82 $0.82
31.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$33.2K $33.2K
-2.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$27.4K $27.4K
-4.27%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Carbondale, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$122 $122
54.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$58.5 $58.5
8.93%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$30.09 $30.09
116.68%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Carbondale, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$43.3 $43.3
77.18%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$13.1 $13.1
13.97%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Carbondale, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,584 $1,584
30.24%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$27.5K $27.5K
42.30%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Carbondale, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$40.31 $40.31
59.54%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$32.24 $32.24
62.50%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$76.1 $76.1
25.13%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$138 $138
5.11%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Carbondale, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,609 $1,609
47.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,347 $1,347
17.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$2,636 $2,636
80.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$2,228 $2,228
26.32%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$2,464 $2,464
45.60%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,500 $2,500
-0.40%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Carbondale, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$2,620 $2,620
101.36%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.53
1.07%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Carbondale, IL: October 29, 2025

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