Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Dubuque, IA Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Dubuque, IA

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 46.9% more expensive than Dubuque, IA without rent, and 63.2% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 68.4% more expensive than Dubuque, IA without rent, and 93.4% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$15.21 $15.21

36.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$50.1 $50.1

100.20%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$9.98 $9.98

19.94%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$4.66 $4.66

19.31%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.05 $2.05

51.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$0.96 $0.96

152.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$3.03 $3.03

126.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$4.42 $4.42

91.18%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$0.82 $0.82

26.83%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$2.26 $2.26

83.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$3.13 $3.13

76.36%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$2.88 $2.88

61.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$9.7 $9.7

47.73%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$10.09 $10.09

47.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$14.08 $14.08

37.36%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$3.52 $3.52

46.88%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.13 $1.13

51.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$3.74 $3.74

17.91%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$3.48 $3.48

29.60%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.76 $1.76

43.75%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.12 $2.12

29.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.97 $1.97

23.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$2.06 $2.06

31.07%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$8.61 $8.61

76.42%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$13.38 $13.38

22.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.88 $1.88

25.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$2.7 $2.7

37.04%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.38 $1.38

83.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

$45.73 $45.73

62.10%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$2.82 $2.82

18.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.56 $1.56

-8.97%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$21.14 $21.14

20.25%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.85 $0.85

27.06%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$30.3K $30.3K

7.11%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$22.5K $22.5K

16.37%

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

$188 $188

$182 $182

3.24%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$48.95 $48.95

30.13%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$62.7 $62.7

3.99%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$37.55 $37.55

104.31%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$8.59 $8.59

73.81%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$807 $807

155.68%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$24K $24K

63.42%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$43.85 $43.85

46.66%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$34.59 $34.59

51.46%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$80.2 $80.2

18.77%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$90.1 $90.1

60.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$972 $972

144.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$741 $741

113.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$1,418 $1,418

235.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$985 $985

185.66%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$1,709 $1,709

109.93%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$1,683 $1,683

47.96%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$5,046 $5,046

4.54%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

4.88

35.25%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Dubuque, IA: October 28, 2025

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