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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,051 in Chicago, IL versus $2,435 in Carbondale, IL.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,638 in Chicago, IL versus $3,484 in Carbondale, IL.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,224 in Chicago, IL versus $4,532 in Carbondale, IL.

Living in Chicago, IL is roughly 25% more expensive than Carbondale, IL, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 128% above, Carbondale, IL 82% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.67 $20.67

$16.91 $16.91

22.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$32.62 $32.62

207.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.86 $11.86

$8.17 $8.17

45.17%

Cappuccino

$5.54 $5.54

$2.92 $2.92

89.73%

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

$3.06 $3.06

$1.98 $1.98

54.55%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 $2.48

$1.46 $1.46

69.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.92 $6.92

$4.47 $4.47

54.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.13 $8.13

$5.34 $5.34

52.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$0.80 $0.80

30.00%

White Bread (500g)

$3.91 $3.91

$2.88 $2.88

35.76%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.42 $5.42

$4.64 $4.64

16.81%

Eggs

$4.48 $4.48

$4.13 $4.13

8.47%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.52 $14.52

$11.06 $11.06

31.28%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.21 $15.21

$11.06 $11.06

37.52%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.25 $19.25

$15.23 $15.23

26.40%

Apples (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$6.30 $6.30

-14.44%

Banana (1kg)

$1.69 $1.69

$1.60 $1.60

5.62%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.32 $4.32

$5.20 $5.20

-16.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$4.97 $4.97

-9.26%

Potato (1kg)

$2.56 $2.56

$4.88 $4.88

-47.54%

Onion (1kg)

$2.70 $2.70

$3.36 $3.36

-19.64%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.41 $2.41

$2.26 $2.26

6.64%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$2.38 $2.38

10.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.02 $15.02

$7.78 $7.78

93.06%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.71 $14.71

$14.77 $14.77

-0.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.48 $2.48

$1.77 $1.77

40.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.69 $3.69

$1.86 $1.86

98.39%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.55 $2.55

$2.02 $2.02

26.24%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.5 $75.5

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.29 $3.29

$2.03 $2.03

62.07%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.43 $1.43

$1.35 $1.35

5.93%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.72 $24.72

$19.94 $19.94

23.97%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.82 $0.82

32.93%

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

$31.8K $31.8K

$33.3K $33.3K

-4.60%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$27.2K $27.2K

-2.76%

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

$183 $183

$121 $121

51.86%

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

$61.8 $61.8

$60.0 $60.0

3.05%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.0 $65.0

$30.12 $30.12

115.94%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.1 $76.1

$43.48 $43.48

74.98%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.04 $13.04

Cinema Ticket

$14.75 $14.75

$12.96 $12.96

13.81%

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

$2,056 $2,056

$1,551 $1,551

32.57%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$38.5K $38.5K

$27.0K $27.0K

42.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.9 $63.9

$39.97 $39.97

59.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.6 $51.6

$32.64 $32.64

58.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.3 $97.3

$74.1 $74.1

31.29%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$147 $147

$139 $139

5.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,349 $2,349

$1,576 $1,576

49.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,581 $1,581

$1,352 $1,352

16.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,708 $4,708

$2,600 $2,600

81.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,716 $2,716

$2,233 $2,233

21.62%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,976 $3,976

$854 $854

365.58%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,632 $2,632

$866 $866

203.84%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,723 $4,723

$3,901 $3,901

21.08%

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 20, 2026

Last update for Carbondale, IL: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,349 in Chicago, IL and $1,576 in Carbondale, IL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chicago, IL pays 21% 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: $100 in Chicago, IL vs $33 in Carbondale, IL for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $447 vs $394 per month, with Carbondale, IL 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 Carbondale, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Carbondale, IL wins on cost – living expenses run 25% lower than in Chicago, IL. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Carbondale, IL the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Chicago, IL pays 21% more on average, 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: $2,349 in Chicago, IL versus $1,576 in Carbondale, IL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 13% higher in Chicago, IL. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $3,051 per month in Chicago, IL versus $2,435 in Carbondale, IL – a 25% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Carbondale, IL is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

Both work as nomad bases, but Carbondale, IL delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,435 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Carbondale, IL hard to pass up.

Expats usually find Carbondale, IL gentler on the wallet – expenses run 25% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.