Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Columbia, KY Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Columbia, KY

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 31.5% more expensive than Columbia, KY without rent, and 15% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 26.1% more expensive than Columbia, KY without rent, and 24% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$18.76 $18.76

10.98%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$74 $74

35.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$11.11 $11.11

7.74%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$5.21 $5.21

6.72%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.55 $2.55

21.96%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.95 $1.95

24.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$5.99 $5.99

14.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$6.8 $6.8

24.26%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$0.99 $0.99

5.05%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$3.55 $3.55

16.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$4.33 $4.33

27.48%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$4.23 $4.23

9.93%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$12.34 $12.34

16.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$11.67 $11.67

27.51%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$15.23 $15.23

26.99%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$4.89 $4.89

5.73%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.63 $1.63

4.91%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$4.22 $4.22

4.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$4.75 $4.75

-5.05%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.86 $2.86

-11.54%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.87 $2.87

-4.53%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.07 $2.07

17.39%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$2.12 $2.12

27.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$9.44 $9.44

60.91%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$12.29 $12.29

33.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.77 $1.77

32.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$3.44 $3.44

7.56%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.02 $2.02

25.25%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$3.57 $3.57

-6.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.59 $1.59

-10.69%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$28.94 $28.94

-12.16%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.9 $0.9

20.00%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$29.8K $29.8K

8.69%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$25.5K $25.5K

2.98%

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

$188 $188

$186 $186

1.32%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$53.5 $53.5

19.13%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$68 $68

-4.12%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$42.94 $42.94

78.67%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$13.53 $13.53

10.35%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,312 $1,312

57.25%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$23.5K $23.5K

67.05%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$51.2 $51.2

25.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$39.73 $39.73

31.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$87.8 $87.8

8.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$112 $112

29.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$1,608 $1,608

47.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,360 $1,360

16.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$2,616 $2,616

82.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$2,201 $2,201

27.92%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$2,820 $2,820

27.22%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$2,743 $2,743

-9.20%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.51

1.38%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Columbia, KY: October 28, 2025

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