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 22.2% more expensive than Des Moines, IA without rent, and 46.9% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 28.2% more expensive than Des Moines, IA without rent, and 49.6% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.10 $20.10

$16.08 $16.08

25.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$102 $102

$79.5 $79.5

28.00%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.02 $12.02

$12.19 $12.19

-1.39%

Cappuccino

$5.62 $5.62

$4.80 $4.80

17.08%

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

$3.01 $3.01

$2.38 $2.38

26.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.86 $1.86

26.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.98 $6.98

$5.07 $5.07

37.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$6.90 $6.90

22.46%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.96 $0.96

13.54%

White Bread (500g)

$4.12 $4.12

$2.52 $2.52

63.49%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.57 $5.57

$2.15 $2.15

159.07%

Eggs

$4.51 $4.51

$3.55 $3.55

27.04%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.42 $14.42

$12.78 $12.78

12.83%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.02 $15.02

$10.38 $10.38

44.70%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.98 $18.98

$12.69 $12.69

49.57%

Apples (1kg)

$5.20 $5.20

$4.53 $4.53

14.79%

Banana (1kg)

$1.78 $1.78

$1.46 $1.46

21.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.34 $4.34

$3.70 $3.70

17.30%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.53 $4.53

$3.61 $3.61

25.48%

Potato (1kg)

$2.55 $2.55

$1.67 $1.67

52.69%

Onion (1kg)

$2.71 $2.71

$3.03 $3.03

-10.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.49 $2.49

$2.24 $2.24

11.16%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.63 $2.63

$1.07 $1.07

145.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.12 $15.12

$7.12 $7.12

112.36%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.91 $14.91

$14.31 $14.31

4.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$1.75 $1.75

41.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 $3.66

$4.01 $4.01

-8.73%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.57 $2.57

$1.72 $1.72

49.42%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.3 $74.3

$58.4 $58.4

27.21%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.30 $3.30

$2.05 $2.05

60.98%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.37 $1.37

$1.22 $1.22

12.30%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.96 $24.96

$19.84 $19.84

25.81%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.06 $1.06

$0.82 $0.82

29.27%

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

$31.4K $31.4K

$25.5K $25.5K

23.01%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$24.6K $24.6K

6.72%

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

$187 $187

$147 $147

27.04%

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

$63.0 $63.0

$51.4 $51.4

22.52%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.8 $65.8

$54.4 $54.4

20.99%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.2 $75.2

$67.3 $67.3

11.77%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.95 $12.95

$19.61 $19.61

-33.96%

Cinema Ticket

$15.13 $15.13

$15.02 $15.02

0.73%

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

$2,067 $2,067

$1,348 $1,348

53.41%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$38.8K $38.8K

$11.8K $11.8K

228.82%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.0 $64.0

$52.5 $52.5

21.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.8 $50.8

$42.52 $42.52

19.52%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.3 $97.3

$71.7 $71.7

35.74%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$144 $144

$124 $124

15.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,338 $2,338

$1,207 $1,207

93.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,614 $1,614

$902 $902

79.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,764 $4,764

$1,775 $1,775

168.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,762 $2,762

$1,498 $1,498

84.35%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,766 $3,766

$2,283 $2,283

64.94%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,614 $2,614

$2,303 $2,303

13.52%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,006 $5,006

$3,601 $3,601

39.02%

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: March 3, 2026

Last update for Des Moines, IA: March 2, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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