Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Des Moines, IA Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Des Moines, IA

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 12.6% more expensive than Des Moines, IA without rent, and 43% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 17.1% more expensive than Des Moines, IA without rent, and 49.1% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$15.83 $15.83

31.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$79.4 $79.4

26.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$12.17 $12.17

-1.64%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$4.78 $4.78

16.32%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.32 $2.32

34.05%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.93 $1.93

25.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$4.86 $4.86

41.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$6.97 $6.97

21.23%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$0.97 $0.97

7.22%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$2.57 $2.57

61.48%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$2.26 $2.26

144.25%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$3.72 $3.72

25.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$12.89 $12.89

11.17%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$10.58 $10.58

40.64%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$12.82 $12.82

50.86%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$4.33 $4.33

19.40%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.44 $1.44

18.75%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$3.75 $3.75

17.60%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$3.61 $3.61

24.93%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.66 $1.66

52.41%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.97 $2.97

-7.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.29 $2.29

6.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$1.08 $1.08

150.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$7.17 $7.17

111.85%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$13.95 $13.95

17.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.78 $1.78

32.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$4.11 $4.11

-9.98%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.7 $1.7

48.82%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

$57 $57

30.05%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$1.94 $1.94

72.16%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.23 $1.23

15.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$19.71 $19.71

28.97%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.81 $0.81

33.33%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$25.7K $25.7K

26.19%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$24.9K $24.9K

5.46%

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

$188 $188

$145 $145

29.86%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$52.1 $52.1

22.38%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$54.2 $54.2

20.30%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$66.1 $66.1

16.01%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

$20.16 $20.16

-35.37%

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$15.29 $15.29

-2.35%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,380 $1,380

49.42%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$12K $12K

226.58%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$53 $53

21.39%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$42.04 $42.04

24.62%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$74 $74

28.61%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$127 $127

14.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$1,226 $1,226

94.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$896 $896

76.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$1,740 $1,740

173.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$1,494 $1,494

88.45%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$2,284 $2,284

57.07%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$2,291 $2,291

8.68%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$3,655 $3,655

44.30%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.5

1.54%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Des Moines, IA: October 28, 2025

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