Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and El Dorado, AR Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and El Dorado, AR

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 32.2% more expensive than El Dorado, AR without rent, and 79.7% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 46.3% more expensive than El Dorado, AR without rent, and 92.9% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chicago, IL
El Dorado, AR
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$18.2 $18.2
14.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$59.8 $59.8
67.90%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$11.72 $11.72
2.13%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$4.76 $4.76
16.81%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.81 $2.81
10.68%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$2.34 $2.34
3.42%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$5.12 $5.12
33.98%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$5.92 $5.92
42.74%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
El Dorado, AR
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.06 $1.06
-1.89%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$3.52 $3.52
17.90%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$3.12 $3.12
76.92%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$2.95 $2.95
57.63%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$9.52 $9.52
50.53%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$11.66 $11.66
27.62%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$16.55 $16.55
16.86%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$4.45 $4.45
16.18%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.42 $1.42
20.42%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$2.79 $2.79
58.06%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$3.87 $3.87
16.54%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$1.5 $1.5
68.67%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$2.42 $2.42
13.22%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$1.91 $1.91
27.23%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$1.79 $1.79
50.84%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$8.52 $8.52
78.29%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$11.3 $11.3
45.31%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.73 $1.73
35.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$2.25 $2.25
64.44%
🚌 Getting Around
Chicago, IL
El Dorado, AR
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.03 $2.03
24.63%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$2.56 $2.56
30.47%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.54 $1.54
-7.79%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$24.13 $24.13
5.35%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.77 $0.77
40.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$23.6K $23.6K
37.25%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$25.8K $25.8K
1.44%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
El Dorado, AR
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$132 $132
42.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$57.9 $57.9
9.96%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$39.58 $39.58
64.73%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
El Dorado, AR
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$43.4 $43.4
76.77%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$8.93 $8.93
67.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
El Dorado, AR
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,045 $1,045
97.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$18.7K $18.7K
109.17%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
El Dorado, AR
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$53.8 $53.8
19.60%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$34.88 $34.88
50.20%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$79.4 $79.4
19.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$60.5 $60.5
139.03%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
El Dorado, AR
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,581 $1,581
50.42%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$615 $615
157.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$2,192 $2,192
117.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$808 $808
248.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$2,844 $2,844
26.18%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,117 $2,117
17.60%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
El Dorado, AR
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$4,134 $4,134
27.60%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.58
0.30%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for El Dorado, AR: October 28, 2025

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