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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,077 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,152 in Denver, CO, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,628 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,688 in Denver, CO, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,179 per month in Chicago, IL vs $6,224 in Denver, CO, rent included.

Chicago, IL is about 2% cheaper than Denver, CO, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Chicago, IL and Denver, CO sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 130%, Denver, CO by 135%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.91 $20.91

$20.15 $20.15

3.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.1 $98.1

$86.4 $86.4

13.64%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.86 $11.86

$12.08 $12.08

-1.82%

Cappuccino

$5.60 $5.60

$5.30 $5.30

5.66%

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

$3.07 $3.07

$2.98 $2.98

3.02%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.24 $2.24

10.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.14 $7.14

$7.22 $7.22

-1.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.08 $8.08

$8.12 $8.12

-0.49%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$1.03 $1.03

1.94%

White Bread (500g)

$4.11 $4.11

$4.12 $4.12

-0.24%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.61 $5.61

$5.70 $5.70

-1.58%

Eggs

$4.51 $4.51

$5.55 $5.55

-18.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.27 $14.27

$14.20 $14.20

0.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.89 $14.89

$13.28 $13.28

12.12%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.19 $19.19

$17.08 $17.08

12.35%

Apples (1kg)

$5.14 $5.14

$5.58 $5.58

-7.89%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 $1.77

$1.91 $1.91

-7.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.39 $4.39

$5.15 $5.15

-14.76%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.56 $4.56

$5.31 $5.31

-14.12%

Potato (1kg)

$2.54 $2.54

$2.79 $2.79

-8.96%

Onion (1kg)

$2.75 $2.75

$2.59 $2.59

6.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.02 $2.02

19.80%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$2.20 $2.20

19.09%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.92 $14.92

$10.41 $10.41

43.32%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.80 $14.80

$19.94 $19.94

-25.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$2.40 $2.40

2.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 $3.73

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.48 $2.48

$2.84 $2.84

-12.68%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.4 $75.4

$86.3 $86.3

-12.54%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.18 $3.18

$3.45 $3.45

-7.83%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.72 $1.72

-17.44%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.94 $24.94

$23.63 $23.63

5.54%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.06 $1.06

$0.89 $0.89

19.10%

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

$31.9K $31.9K

$31.1K $31.1K

2.56%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$27.6K $27.6K

-5.73%

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

$185 $185

$176 $176

5.00%

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

$61.7 $61.7

$71.7 $71.7

-13.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.9 $66.9

$67.6 $67.6

-0.93%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.2 $75.2

$63.7 $63.7

18.01%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.08 $13.08

$38.21 $38.21

-65.77%

Cinema Ticket

$14.71 $14.71

$15.28 $15.28

-3.73%

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

$2,020 $2,020

$1,561 $1,561

29.45%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.4K $39.4K

$16.2K $16.2K

142.69%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.6 $64.6

$59.8 $59.8

8.04%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.5 $52.5

$46.46 $46.46

12.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.8 $97.8

$96.9 $96.9

0.98%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$148 $148

$117 $117

25.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,313 $2,313

$2,165 $2,165

6.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,590 $1,590

$1,725 $1,725

-7.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,608 $4,608

$3,567 $3,567

29.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,779 $2,779

$2,955 $2,955

-5.97%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,922 $3,922

$5,626 $5,626

-30.30%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,613 $2,613

$3,773 $3,773

-30.76%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,217 $5,217

$4,401 $4,401

18.55%

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: May 30, 2026

Last update for Denver, CO: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,313 in Chicago, IL versus $2,165 in Denver, CO. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 19% higher in Chicago, IL, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $98.0 in Chicago, IL versus $86.0 in Denver, CO. Groceries tell a different story – $447 in Chicago, IL vs $451 in Denver, CO – so Chicago, IL wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Denver, CO: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,077 in Chicago, IL, $3,152 in Denver, CO – roughly 2% apart. Denver, CO costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,616 per month in Chicago, IL and $4,728 in Denver, CO. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Chicago, IL, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 1% more in Denver, CO, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $98.0 in Chicago, IL and $86.0 in Denver, CO. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,077 in Chicago, IL and $3,152 in Denver, CO. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $3,077 in Chicago, IL to $3,152 in Denver, CO. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Chicago, IL. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Denver, CO makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.