Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Carmel, IN Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Carmel, IN

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 25.7% more expensive than Carmel, IN without rent, and 17.6% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 8.5% more expensive than Carmel, IN without rent, and 27% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$25.22 $25.22

-17.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$75 $75

33.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$11.2 $11.2

6.88%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$4.68 $4.68

18.80%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.78 $2.78

11.87%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.99 $1.99

21.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$6.12 $6.12

12.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$6.55 $6.55

29.01%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$0.77 $0.77

35.06%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$2.73 $2.73

52.01%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$4.8 $4.8

15.00%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$3.46 $3.46

34.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$9.43 $9.43

51.96%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$11.05 $11.05

34.66%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$14.77 $14.77

30.94%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$5.11 $5.11

1.17%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.55 $1.55

10.32%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$4.48 $4.48

-1.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$4.18 $4.18

7.89%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.42 $2.42

4.55%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.69 $2.69

1.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.75 $1.75

38.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$2.08 $2.08

29.81%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$9.21 $9.21

64.93%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$13.26 $13.26

23.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$2.17 $2.17

8.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$3.81 $3.81

-2.89%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.37 $2.37

6.75%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$2.05 $2.05

62.93%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$34.42 $34.42

-26.15%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.86 $0.86

25.58%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$24.4K $24.4K

32.94%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$22.7K $22.7K

15.54%

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

$188 $188

$235 $235

-19.88%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$63.5 $63.5

0.27%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$65.9 $65.9

-1.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$69.6 $69.6

10.26%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

$32.59 $32.59

-60.02%

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$12.47 $12.47

19.73%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,757 $1,757

17.37%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$27.2K $27.2K

43.78%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$47.24 $47.24

36.13%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$41.36 $41.36

26.67%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$87.3 $87.3

9.02%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$106 $106

35.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$1,492 $1,492

59.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,259 $1,259

25.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$2,563 $2,563

85.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$1,887 $1,887

49.16%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$1,886 $1,886

90.21%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$1,784 $1,784

39.59%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$6,682 $6,682

-21.05%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.56

0.61%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Carmel, IN: October 29, 2025

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