Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Dodge City, KS

For one person, living is cheaper in Dodge City, KS: $2,665 a month against $3,072 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $4,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

146

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
Learn more

Chicago, IL Living Index
127

Cost of Living Index in Dodge City, KS
Learn more

Dodge City, KS Living Index

Jump to prices

Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,072

/mo nomad

Dodge City, KS

🇺🇸 United States

$2,665

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chicago, IL and in Dodge City, KS

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chicago, IL and in Dodge City, KS actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,072 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,665 in Dodge City, KS, rent included.

Chicago, IL $3,072
Dodge City, KS $2,665

A couple spends around $4,545 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,806 in Dodge City, KS, rent included.

Chicago, IL $4,545
Dodge City, KS $3,806

A family of three spends $6,019 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,947 in Dodge City, KS, rent included.

Chicago, IL $6,019
Dodge City, KS $4,947

Chicago, IL costs about 15% more than Dodge City, KS, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chicago, IL and Dodge City, KS sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 127%, Dodge City, KS by 97%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.39 $20.39

$18.82 $18.82

8.34%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.6 $88.6

$55.3 $55.3

60.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.85 $12.85

$10.71 $10.71

19.98%

Cappuccino

$5.78 $5.78

$5.35 $5.35

8.04%

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

$2.74 $2.74

$2.37 $2.37

15.61%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.26 $2.26

$1.90 $1.90

18.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.88 $6.88

$5.39 $5.39

27.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.24 $9.24

$6.09 $6.09

51.72%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.26 $1.26

$0.84 $0.84

50.00%

White Bread (500g)

$3.55 $3.55

$3.69 $3.69

-3.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.38 $5.38

$5.76 $5.76

-6.60%

Eggs

$4.55 $4.55

$4.42 $4.42

2.94%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.65 $13.65

$10.98 $10.98

24.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.07 $14.07

$11.21 $11.21

25.51%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.06 $18.06

$18.75 $18.75

-3.68%

Apples (1kg)

$5.16 $5.16

$2.52 $2.52

104.76%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.70 $1.70

16.47%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.88 $3.88

$3.76 $3.76

3.19%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.83 $4.83

$2.39 $2.39

102.09%

Potato (1kg)

$2.81 $2.81

$2.55 $2.55

10.20%

Onion (1kg)

$2.67 $2.67

$2.26 $2.26

18.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.07 $2.07

$2.40 $2.40

-13.75%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.03 $3.03

$2.38 $2.38

27.31%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.90 $13.90

$9.67 $9.67

43.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.05 $15.05

$12.17 $12.17

23.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.63 $2.63

$2.18 $2.18

20.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.45 $3.45

$3.75 $3.75

-8.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.11 $2.11

15.17%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.3 $75.3

$67.9 $67.9

10.87%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.17 $3.17

$2.44 $2.44

29.92%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.70 $1.70

$1.59 $1.59

6.92%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.90 $24.90

$39.47 $39.47

-36.91%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 $1.28

$0.98 $0.98

30.61%

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

$35.8K $35.8K

$28.6K $28.6K

25.04%

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

$26.8K $26.8K

$25.8K $25.8K

3.79%

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

$192 $192

$274 $274

-30.00%

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

$69.6 $69.6

$76.0 $76.0

-8.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.2 $62.2

$62.7 $62.7

-0.83%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.79 $47.79

$38.50 $38.50

24.13%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.10 $27.10

Cinema Ticket

$17.83 $17.83

$14.86 $14.86

19.99%

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

$1,815 $1,815

$899 $899

101.92%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$40.6K $40.6K

$18.0K $18.0K

125.62%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.2 $66.2

$47.47 $47.47

39.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.4 $51.4

$30.24 $30.24

69.94%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 $103

$106 $106

-2.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$108 $108

32.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,531 $2,531

$1,598 $1,598

58.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,621 $1,621

$1,289 $1,289

25.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,828 $4,828

$2,602 $2,602

85.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,734 $2,734

$2,110 $2,110

29.54%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,163 $4,163

$2,827 $2,827

47.28%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,723 $2,723

$2,344 $2,344

16.17%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,924 $4,924

$2,866 $2,866

71.76%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.78

6.57

3.20%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: November 3, 2026

Last update for Dodge City, KS: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52.8%

Dodge City, KS

$1.3K 48.4% 20.5% $333

Groceries & Markets

Chicago, IL

$439 14.3%

Dodge City, KS

$374 14% 14.8% $65

Eating Out

Chicago, IL

$344 11.2%

Dodge City, KS

$303 11.4% 11.9% $41

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chicago, IL

$324 10.5%

Dodge City, KS

$413 15.5% 27.6% $89

Clothing & Footwear

Chicago, IL

$164 5.3%

Dodge City, KS

$131 4.9% 19.7% $32

Getting Around

Chicago, IL

$97 3.2%

Dodge City, KS

$87 3.3% 10.3% $10

Sport & Entertainment

Chicago, IL

$83 2.7%

Dodge City, KS

$68 2.6% 18.2% $15

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,531 in Chicago, IL versus $1,598 in Dodge City, KS. 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 72% higher in Chicago, IL. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89 in Chicago, IL versus $55 in Dodge City, KS. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $439 vs $374 – making Dodge City, KS the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 Dodge City, KS

🕒 Local time

17:56 5:56 PM

Same time as Chicago, IL

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

2,746,388

26,101

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.888 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Chicago, IL Dodge City, KS 1,150 km ≈ 2 h nonstop flight

From you

Chicago, IL
Dodge City, KS

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Dodge City, KS: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,072 in Chicago, IL, $2,665 in Dodge City, KS – Dodge City, KS comes out roughly 13% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,608 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,998 in Dodge City, KS. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Dodge City, KS, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,598 there versus $2,531 in Chicago, IL.

Groceries cost about 17% more in Chicago, IL, though the gap depends on what you buy.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89 in Chicago, IL and $55 in Dodge City, KS. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Dodge City, KS, where all-in costs run around $2,665, than in Chicago, IL at $3,072. In Dodge City, KS it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chicago, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Dodge City, KS – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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