Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Denver, CO Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Denver, CO

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 1% more expensive than Denver, CO without rent, and 6% cheaper with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 3.9% more expensive than Denver, CO without rent, and 1.5% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$19.92 $19.92

4.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$85.2 $85.2

17.73%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$12.18 $12.18

-1.72%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$5.29 $5.29

5.10%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.98 $2.98

4.36%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.31 $2.31

4.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$7.15 $7.15

-4.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$8.15 $8.15

3.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.03 $1.03

0.97%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$4.26 $4.26

-2.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$5.75 $5.75

-4.00%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$5.51 $5.51

-15.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$14.22 $14.22

0.77%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$13.01 $13.01

14.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$16.96 $16.96

14.03%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$5.68 $5.68

-8.98%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.92 $1.92

-10.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$5.14 $5.14

-14.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$5.36 $5.36

-15.86%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.85 $2.85

-11.23%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.58 $2.58

6.20%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.96 $1.96

23.98%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$2.28 $2.28

18.42%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$10.31 $10.31

47.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$16.73 $16.73

-1.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$2.51 $2.51

-6.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$3.67 $3.67

0.82%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.88 $2.88

-12.15%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

$86.8 $86.8

-14.62%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$3.53 $3.53

-5.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.79 $1.79

-20.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$24.05 $24.05

5.70%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.91 $0.91

18.68%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$31.7K $31.7K

2.32%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$27.9K $27.9K

-6.08%

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

$188 $188

$173 $173

9.06%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$72.3 $72.3

-11.88%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$68.2 $68.2

-4.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$61.7 $61.7

24.26%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

$38.25 $38.25

-65.93%

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$15.2 $15.2

-1.78%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,522 $1,522

35.53%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$16.2K $16.2K

141.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$59.1 $59.1

8.80%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$45.5 $45.5

15.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$98.7 $98.7

-3.53%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$118 $118

22.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$2,177 $2,177

9.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,709 $1,709

-7.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$3,608 $3,608

32.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$3,007 $3,007

-6.38%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$4,997 $4,997

-28.19%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$3,723 $3,723

-33.12%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$4,950 $4,950

6.57%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.37

3.61%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Denver, CO: October 28, 2025

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