Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Eagan Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Eagan

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,009 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,265 in Eagan, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,576 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,318 in Eagan, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,143 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,371 in Eagan, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 33% more than Eagan, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Chicago, IL and Eagan sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 126%, Eagan by 70%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.27 $20.27

$18.31 $18.31

10.70%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$101 $101

$70.6 $70.6

42.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.04 $12.04

$11.93 $11.93

0.92%

Cappuccino

$5.76 $5.76

$5.99 $5.99

-3.84%

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

$2.97 $2.97

$2.32 $2.32

28.02%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 $2.38

$1.51 $1.51

57.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.20 $7.20

$4.30 $4.30

67.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.05 $8.05

$6.88 $6.88

17.01%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.93 $0.93

17.20%

White Bread (500g)

$4.12 $4.12

$3.27 $3.27

25.99%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.29 $5.29

$5.31 $5.31

-0.38%

Eggs

$4.56 $4.56

$3.14 $3.14

45.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.45 $14.45

$11.22 $11.22

28.79%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.79 $14.79

$12.25 $12.25

20.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.56 $19.56

$17.59 $17.59

11.20%

Apples (1kg)

$5.42 $5.42

$5.34 $5.34

1.50%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.77 $1.77

-3.39%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.18 $4.18

$2.06 $2.06

102.91%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.59 $4.59

$5.47 $5.47

-16.09%

Potato (1kg)

$2.48 $2.48

$3.10 $3.10

-20.00%

Onion (1kg)

$2.72 $2.72

$1.86 $1.86

46.24%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.47 $2.47

$1.75 $1.75

41.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.72 $2.72

$2.04 $2.04

33.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.78 $14.78

$9.53 $9.53

55.09%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.30 $15.30

$16.09 $16.09

-4.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$2.26 $2.26

3.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.74 $3.74

$2.05 $2.05

82.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.47 $2.47

$3.30 $3.30

-25.15%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.0 $74.0

$82.9 $82.9

-10.64%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.32 $3.32

$4.69 $4.69

-29.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.37 $1.37

$1.74 $1.74

-21.26%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.65 $24.65

$24.06 $24.06

2.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$0.85 $0.85

23.53%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$30.5K $30.5K

6.11%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$24.6K $24.6K

5.89%

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

$186 $186

$160 $160

16.58%

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

$62.6 $62.6

$51.3 $51.3

22.05%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.5 $67.5

$68.4 $68.4

-1.33%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.2 $75.2

$10.92 $10.92

588.74%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.38 $13.38

$21.44 $21.44

-37.59%

Cinema Ticket

$15.10 $15.10

$15.26 $15.26

-1.05%

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

$2,023 $2,023

$1,611 $1,611

25.55%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.9K $39.9K

$26.3K $26.3K

51.71%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.2 $64.2

$38.82 $38.82

65.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.2 $51.2

$19.26 $19.26

165.73%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.2 $96.2

$75.1 $75.1

27.96%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$147 $147

$118 $118

25.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,329 $2,329

$1,579 $1,579

47.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,570 $1,570

$983 $983

59.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,677 $4,677

$2,421 $2,421

93.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,810 $2,810

$1,620 $1,620

73.40%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,082 $4,082

$2,926 $2,926

39.48%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,645 $2,645

$2,245 $2,245

17.78%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,883 $4,883

$4,434 $4,434

10.13%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.51

1.38%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: July 27, 2026

Last update for Eagan: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,329 in Chicago, IL versus $1,579 in Eagan. 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 10% 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 $101 in Chicago, IL versus $71.0 in Eagan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $450 vs $388 – making Eagan 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 Eagan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,009 in Chicago, IL, $2,265 in Eagan – roughly 33% apart. Chicago, IL costs more across the board, with Sport & Entertainment showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,513 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,397 in Eagan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 16% 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 $101 in Chicago, IL and $71.0 in Eagan. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,009 in Chicago, IL and $2,265 in Eagan. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,265 in Eagan to $3,009 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Eagan. 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.