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

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 50.8% more expensive than Columbia, MO without rent, and 61.3% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 49.5% more expensive than Columbia, MO without rent, and 63.6% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$17.16 $17.16

21.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$61 $61

64.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$12.83 $12.83

-6.70%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$4.89 $4.89

13.70%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.6 $2.6

19.62%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.04 $2.04

18.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$4.06 $4.06

68.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$4.95 $4.95

70.71%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.1 $1.1

-5.45%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$3.22 $3.22

28.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$2.08 $2.08

165.38%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$2.98 $2.98

56.04%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$9.46 $9.46

51.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$9.09 $9.09

63.70%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$14.21 $14.21

36.10%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$4.12 $4.12

25.49%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.28 $1.28

33.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$3.16 $3.16

39.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$4 $4

12.75%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.61 $1.61

57.14%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.46 $2.46

11.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.67 $1.67

45.51%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$1.95 $1.95

38.46%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$6.88 $6.88

120.78%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$12.05 $12.05

36.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.74 $1.74

35.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$3.53 $3.53

4.82%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.04 $2.04

24.02%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$3.05 $3.05

9.51%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.02 $1.02

39.22%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$22.51 $22.51

12.93%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.8 $0.8

35.00%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$29.6K $29.6K

9.47%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$25.4K $25.4K

3.20%

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

$188 $188

$186 $186

1.38%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$51.7 $51.7

23.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$60.9 $60.9

7.01%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$28.39 $28.39

170.24%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

$16.52 $16.52

-21.13%

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$12.17 $12.17

22.68%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,212 $1,212

70.12%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$12.9K $12.9K

203.76%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$53.3 $53.3

20.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$33.21 $33.21

57.75%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$69.1 $69.1

37.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$89.1 $89.1

62.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$925 $925

157.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$778 $778

103.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$1,810 $1,810

163.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$1,434 $1,434

96.25%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$1,992 $1,992

80.15%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$1,937 $1,937

28.58%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$3,880 $3,880

35.97%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.35

3.94%

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, MO: October 29, 2025

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