Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Chesterfield, MO Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Chesterfield, MO

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,051 in Chicago, IL versus $2,350 in Chesterfield, MO.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,638 in Chicago, IL versus $3,209 in Chesterfield, MO.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,224 in Chicago, IL versus $4,068 in Chesterfield, MO.

Living in Chicago, IL is roughly 30% more expensive than Chesterfield, MO, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 128% above, Chesterfield, MO 75% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.67 $20.67

$15.08 $15.08

37.07%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$49.61 $49.61

102.50%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.86 $11.86

$8.68 $8.68

36.64%

Cappuccino

$5.54 $5.54

$4.29 $4.29

29.14%

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

$3.06 $3.06

$2.26 $2.26

35.40%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 $2.48

$1.24 $1.24

100.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.92 $6.92

$4.09 $4.09

69.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.13 $8.13

$5.95 $5.95

36.64%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$0.92 $0.92

13.04%

White Bread (500g)

$3.91 $3.91

$3.03 $3.03

29.04%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.42 $5.42

$2.09 $2.09

159.33%

Eggs

$4.48 $4.48

$3.36 $3.36

33.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.52 $14.52

$9.13 $9.13

59.04%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.21 $15.21

$9.29 $9.29

63.72%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.25 $19.25

$13.02 $13.02

47.85%

Apples (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$4.47 $4.47

20.58%

Banana (1kg)

$1.69 $1.69

$1.29 $1.29

31.01%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.32 $4.32

$3.14 $3.14

37.58%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$4.09 $4.09

10.27%

Potato (1kg)

$2.56 $2.56

$1.65 $1.65

55.15%

Onion (1kg)

$2.70 $2.70

$2.46 $2.46

9.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.41 $2.41

$1.98 $1.98

21.72%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$1.88 $1.88

39.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.02 $15.02

$7.13 $7.13

110.66%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.71 $14.71

$12.04 $12.04

22.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.48 $2.48

$1.68 $1.68

47.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.69 $3.69

$1.63 $1.63

126.38%

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

$3.08 $3.08

6.82%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.43 $1.43

$1.59 $1.59

-10.06%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.72 $24.72

$36.61 $36.61

-32.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.77 $0.77

41.56%

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

$31.8K $31.8K

$23.6K $23.6K

34.75%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$23.2K $23.2K

14.16%

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

$183 $183

$234 $234

-21.84%

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

$61.8 $61.8

$67.7 $67.7

-8.64%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.0 $65.0

$71.8 $71.8

-9.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.1 $76.1

$42.23 $42.23

80.16%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.04 $13.04

Cinema Ticket

$14.75 $14.75

$9.97 $9.97

47.94%

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

$2,056 $2,056

$776 $776

165.02%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$38.5K $38.5K

$23.5K $23.5K

63.79%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.9 $63.9

$52.8 $52.8

21.08%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.6 $51.6

$30.20 $30.20

70.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.3 $97.3

$39.62 $39.62

145.48%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$147 $147

$56.6 $56.6

159.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,349 $2,349

$1,742 $1,742

34.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,581 $1,581

$1,278 $1,278

23.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,708 $4,708

$3,174 $3,174

48.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,716 $2,716

$1,871 $1,871

45.17%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,976 $3,976

$1,963 $1,963

102.60%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,632 $2,632

$1,963 $1,963

34.08%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,723 $4,723

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.65

-0.75%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: April 20, 2026

Last update for Chesterfield, MO: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,349 in Chicago, IL and $1,742 in Chesterfield, MO. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $100 in Chicago, IL vs $50 in Chesterfield, MO for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $447 vs $313 per month, with Chesterfield, MO 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 Chesterfield, MO: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chicago, IL and Chesterfield, MO differ by about 30% in total monthly costs ($3,051 vs $2,350 including rent). Chesterfield, MO is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $4,577 in Chicago, IL and $3,524 in Chesterfield, MO to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,349 in Chicago, IL versus $1,742 in Chesterfield, MO. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 43% 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 $2,350 in Chesterfield, MO – a 30% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Chesterfield, MO is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Chesterfield, MO gentler on the wallet – expenses run 30% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.