Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Casper, WY Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Casper, WY

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,077 in Chicago, IL versus $1,911 in Casper, WY.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,628 in Chicago, IL versus $2,962 in Casper, WY.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,179 in Chicago, IL versus $4,014 in Casper, WY.

Living in Chicago, IL is roughly 61% more expensive than Casper, WY, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 130% above, Casper, WY 43% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.91 $20.91

$14.40 $14.40

45.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.1 $98.1

$47.61 $47.61

106.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.86 $11.86

$9.22 $9.22

28.63%

Cappuccino

$5.60 $5.60

$4.32 $4.32

29.63%

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

$3.07 $3.07

$3.00 $3.00

2.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.41 $2.41

2.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.14 $7.14

$5.05 $5.05

41.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.08 $8.08

$6.06 $6.06

33.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$0.95 $0.95

10.53%

White Bread (500g)

$4.11 $4.11

$3.23 $3.23

27.24%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.61 $5.61

$5.58 $5.58

0.54%

Eggs

$4.51 $4.51

$4.06 $4.06

11.08%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.27 $14.27

$10.75 $10.75

32.74%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.89 $14.89

$7.09 $7.09

110.01%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.19 $19.19

$14.97 $14.97

28.19%

Apples (1kg)

$5.14 $5.14

$4.07 $4.07

26.29%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 $1.77

$1.45 $1.45

22.07%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.39 $4.39

$2.69 $2.69

63.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.56 $4.56

$3.46 $3.46

31.79%

Potato (1kg)

$2.54 $2.54

$2.26 $2.26

12.39%

Onion (1kg)

$2.75 $2.75

$1.50 $1.50

83.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.55 $2.55

-5.10%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$1.83 $1.83

43.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.92 $14.92

$6.43 $6.43

132.04%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.80 $14.80

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$1.77 $1.77

38.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 $3.73

$3.30 $3.30

13.03%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.48 $2.48

$0.98 $0.98

153.06%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.4 $75.4

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.18 $3.18

$3.42 $3.42

-7.02%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.65 $1.65

-13.94%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.94 $24.94

$29.21 $29.21

-14.62%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.06 $1.06

$0.87 $0.87

21.84%

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

$31.9K $31.9K

$45.1K $45.1K

-29.27%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$31.9K $31.9K

-18.37%

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

$185 $185

$171 $171

8.08%

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

$61.7 $61.7

$53.4 $53.4

15.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.9 $66.9

$83.9 $83.9

-20.20%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.2 $75.2

$43.80 $43.80

71.62%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.08 $13.08

Cinema Ticket

$14.71 $14.71

$13.69 $13.69

7.45%

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

$2,020 $2,020

$1,284 $1,284

57.38%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.4K $39.4K

$23.6K $23.6K

67.05%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.6 $64.6

$25.26 $25.26

155.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.5 $52.5

$40.66 $40.66

29.00%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.8 $97.8

$83.8 $83.8

16.77%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$148 $148

$122 $122

20.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,313 $2,313

$798 $798

189.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,590 $1,590

$836 $836

90.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,608 $4,608

$1,801 $1,801

155.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,779 $2,779

$1,772 $1,772

56.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,922 $3,922

$1,846 $1,846

112.41%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,613 $2,613

$1,867 $1,867

39.93%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,217 $5,217

$4,307 $4,307

21.13%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.45

2.33%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: May 30, 2026

Last update for Casper, WY: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,313 in Chicago, IL and $798 in Casper, WY. 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: $98.0 in Chicago, IL vs $48.00 in Casper, WY for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $447 vs $308 per month, with Casper, WY 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 Casper, WY: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Casper, WY is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 61% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

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: $2,313 in Chicago, IL versus $798 in Casper, WY. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $2,020 in Chicago, IL versus $1,284 in Casper, WY. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Casper, WY – a meal for two runs $48.00 versus $98.0 in Chicago, IL. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,911 in Casper, WY versus $3,077 in Chicago, IL, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Casper, WY but tight or insufficient in Chicago, IL. The gap between the two cities makes Casper, WY the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Casper, WY 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 Casper, WY 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 Casper, WY gentler on the wallet – expenses run 61% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.