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: $3,084 in Chicago, IL versus $2,328 in Chesterfield, MO.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,637 in Chicago, IL versus $3,206 in Chesterfield, MO.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,191 in Chicago, IL versus $4,084 in Chesterfield, MO.

Living in Chicago, IL is roughly 33% more expensive than in Chesterfield, MO, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 131% above, Chesterfield, MO 74% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.81 $20.81

$14.99 $14.99

38.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.6 $98.6

$49.00 $49.00

101.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.90 $11.90

$8.32 $8.32

43.03%

Cappuccino

$5.84 $5.84

$4.34 $4.34

34.56%

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

$3.07 $3.07

$2.21 $2.21

38.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.21 $1.21

94.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.87 $6.87

$4.12 $4.12

66.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.07 $8.07

$5.90 $5.90

36.78%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$0.92 $0.92

14.13%

White Bread (500g)

$3.98 $3.98

$2.87 $2.87

38.68%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.60 $5.60

$2.07 $2.07

170.53%

Eggs

$4.55 $4.55

$3.40 $3.40

33.82%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.20 $14.20

$9.16 $9.16

55.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.90 $14.90

$9.17 $9.17

62.49%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.08 $19.08

$13.00 $13.00

46.77%

Apples (1kg)

$5.31 $5.31

$4.56 $4.56

16.45%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.23 $1.23

39.02%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.24 $4.24

$3.06 $3.06

38.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.37 $4.37

$4.07 $4.07

7.37%

Potato (1kg)

$2.56 $2.56

$1.67 $1.67

53.29%

Onion (1kg)

$2.80 $2.80

$2.56 $2.56

9.37%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.47 $2.47

$1.93 $1.93

27.98%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.70 $2.70

$1.81 $1.81

49.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.95 $14.95

$7.09 $7.09

110.86%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.73 $14.73

$11.88 $11.88

23.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.37 $2.37

$1.66 $1.66

42.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.57 $3.57

$1.58 $1.58

125.95%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.44 $2.44

$2.04 $2.04

19.61%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.2 $75.2

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.35 $3.35

$2.91 $2.91

15.12%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.37 $1.37

$1.52 $1.52

-9.87%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.29 $25.29

$35.76 $35.76

-29.28%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.78 $0.78

39.74%

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

$32.3K $32.3K

$23.6K $23.6K

36.63%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$23.2K $23.2K

13.68%

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

$188 $188

$233 $233

-19.17%

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

$63.3 $63.3

$67.7 $67.7

-6.49%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.2 $66.2

$71.3 $71.3

-7.13%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.6 $75.6

$42.86 $42.86

76.29%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.20 $13.20

Cinema Ticket

$14.80 $14.80

$9.83 $9.83

50.56%

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

$2,097 $2,097

$754 $754

178.05%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$38.5K $38.5K

$23.4K $23.4K

64.34%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.9 $64.9

$52.0 $52.0

24.73%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.6 $51.6

$29.66 $29.66

73.94%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.3 $96.3

$39.44 $39.44

144.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$146 $146

$56.6 $56.6

158.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,332 $2,332

$1,724 $1,724

35.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,579 $1,579

$1,259 $1,259

25.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,775 $4,775

$3,123 $3,123

52.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,725 $2,725

$1,930 $1,930

41.24%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,023 $4,023

$1,989 $1,989

102.25%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,684 $2,684

$1,979 $1,979

35.63%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,981 $4,981

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: July 20, 2026

Last update for Chesterfield, MO: July 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,332 in Chicago, IL and $1,724 in Chesterfield, MO. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $99.0 in Chicago, IL vs $49.00 in Chesterfield, MO for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $445 vs $310 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 33% in total monthly costs ($3,084 vs $2,328 including rent). Chesterfield, MO is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $4,626 in Chicago, IL and $3,491 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: $2,332 in Chicago, IL versus $1,724 in Chesterfield, MO. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 44% higher in Chicago, IL. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $3,084 per month in Chicago, IL versus $2,328 in Chesterfield, MO – a 33% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,328 in Chesterfield, MO versus $3,084 in Chicago, IL, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Chesterfield, MO but tight or insufficient in Chicago, IL. The gap between the two cities makes Chesterfield, MO the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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 33% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.