Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Cedar Rapids, IA Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Cedar Rapids, IA

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 1.8% more expensive than Cedar Rapids, IA without rent, and 50.7% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 25.4% more expensive than Cedar Rapids, IA without rent, and 52.4% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Cedar Rapids, IA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$15.06 $15.06
38.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$69.9 $69.9
43.65%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$10.68 $10.68
12.08%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$5.24 $5.24
6.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$1.87 $1.87
66.31%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$1.47 $1.47
64.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$4.38 $4.38
56.62%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$5.9 $5.9
43.22%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Cedar Rapids, IA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$0.86 $0.86
20.93%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$2.81 $2.81
47.69%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$4.62 $4.62
19.48%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$3.11 $3.11
49.52%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$13.84 $13.84
3.54%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$10.99 $10.99
35.40%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$16.11 $16.11
20.05%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$4.37 $4.37
18.31%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.21 $1.21
41.32%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$5.39 $5.39
-18.18%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$4.55 $4.55
-0.88%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.6 $2.6
-2.69%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$2.33 $2.33
17.60%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.04 $2.04
19.12%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$1.95 $1.95
38.46%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$9.43 $9.43
61.08%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$11.09 $11.09
48.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$2.18 $2.18
7.80%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$3.36 $3.36
10.12%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Cedar Rapids, IA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$1.72 $1.72
47.09%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
$29.58 $29.58
150.61%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$3.6 $3.6
-7.22%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.84 $1.84
-22.83%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$42.03 $42.03
-39.52%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.77 $0.77
40.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$24.8K $24.8K
30.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$25.2K $25.2K
4.16%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Cedar Rapids, IA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$208 $208
-9.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$51.1 $51.1
24.66%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$70.4 $70.4
-7.33%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Cedar Rapids, IA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$99.5 $99.5
-22.89%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$12.82 $12.82
16.46%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Cedar Rapids, IA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$975 $975
111.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$24.7K $24.7K
58.31%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Cedar Rapids, IA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$61.5 $61.5
4.57%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$48.57 $48.57
7.86%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$103 $103
-7.30%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$130 $130
10.86%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Cedar Rapids, IA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,120 $1,120
112.25%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$749 $749
111.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$1,765 $1,765
169.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$1,222 $1,222
130.42%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$1,533 $1,533
134.00%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$1,568 $1,568
58.83%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Cedar Rapids, IA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$3,778 $3,778
39.64%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.49
1.69%

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 Cedar Rapids, IA: October 29, 2025

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