Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Duluth, MN Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Duluth, MN

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,117 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,175 in Duluth, MN, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,695 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,574 in Duluth, MN, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,273 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,973 in Duluth, MN, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 43% more than Duluth, MN, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chicago, IL and Duluth, MN sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 128%, Duluth, MN by 59%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.92 $19.92

$20.31 $20.31

-1.92%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.5 $88.5

$67.6 $67.6

31.00%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.94 $12.94

$10.02 $10.02

29.14%

Cappuccino

$5.54 $5.54

$5.25 $5.25

5.52%

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

$2.74 $2.74

$2.54 $2.54

7.87%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 $2.36

$1.80 $1.80

31.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.12 $7.12

$6.58 $6.58

8.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.73 $8.73

$7.79 $7.79

12.07%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$0.88 $0.88

52.27%

White Bread (500g)

$4.17 $4.17

$2.93 $2.93

42.32%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.73 $5.73

$3.92 $3.92

46.17%

Eggs

$4.89 $4.89

$3.91 $3.91

25.06%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.77 $14.77

$10.31 $10.31

43.26%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.85 $14.85

$10.43 $10.43

42.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.61 $19.61

$19.23 $19.23

1.98%

Apples (1kg)

$5.57 $5.57

$5.10 $5.10

9.22%

Banana (1kg)

$1.92 $1.92

$1.49 $1.49

28.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.17 $4.17

$2.79 $2.79

49.46%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.86 $4.86

$4.31 $4.31

12.76%

Potato (1kg)

$2.84 $2.84

$1.10 $1.10

158.18%

Onion (1kg)

$2.80 $2.80

$2.09 $2.09

33.97%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.20 $2.20

$1.11 $1.11

98.20%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.06 $3.06

$1.41 $1.41

117.02%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$16.16 $16.16

$13.16 $13.16

22.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.82 $14.82

$15.95 $15.95

-7.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.74 $1.74

45.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.35 $3.35

$2.74 $2.74

22.26%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.55 $2.55

$1.85 $1.85

37.84%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.6 $75.6

$40.75 $40.75

85.45%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.30 $3.30

$4.92 $4.92

-32.93%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.36 $1.36

$1.50 $1.50

-9.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.12 $25.12

$24.20 $24.20

3.80%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.17 $1.17

$0.92 $0.92

27.17%

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

$36.0K $36.0K

$22.8K $22.8K

57.94%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$23.5K $23.5K

11.72%

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

$191 $191

$156 $156

22.80%

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

$67.9 $67.9

$44.26 $44.26

53.46%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.7 $61.7

$66.8 $66.8

-7.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.5 $63.5

$63.2 $63.2

0.38%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.14 $27.14

$26.10 $26.10

3.98%

Cinema Ticket

$18.02 $18.02

$11.31 $11.31

59.33%

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

$1,522 $1,522

$1,033 $1,033

47.33%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.3K $31.3K

$10.0K $10.0K

212.58%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.7 $63.7

$57.1 $57.1

11.47%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.3 $55.3

$44.73 $44.73

23.52%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100 $100

$98.1 $98.1

2.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$153 $153

$85.3 $85.3

79.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,406 $2,406

$1,297 $1,297

85.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,653 $1,653

$1,000 $1,000

65.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,577 $4,577

$2,301 $2,301

98.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,771 $2,771

$2,215 $2,215

25.10%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,031 $4,031

$2,415 $2,415

66.89%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,745 $2,745

$2,351 $2,351

16.75%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,804 $4,804

$3,735 $3,735

28.64%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.38

6.19

3.07%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: September 13, 2026

Last update for Duluth, MN: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,406 in Chicago, IL versus $1,297 in Duluth, MN. 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 29% higher in Chicago, IL, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $88.0 in Chicago, IL versus $68.0 in Duluth, MN. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $464 vs $352 – making Duluth, MN the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Duluth, MN: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,117 in Chicago, IL, $2,175 in Duluth, MN – roughly 43% apart. Chicago, IL costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,676 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,262 in Duluth, MN. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 32% more in Chicago, IL, 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 $88.0 in Chicago, IL and $68.0 in Duluth, MN. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Duluth, MN, where all-in costs run around $2,175, than in Chicago, IL at $3,117. In Duluth, MN it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chicago, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,175 in Duluth, MN to $3,117 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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