Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Elkhart, IN Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Elkhart, IN

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 56.3% more expensive than Elkhart, IN without rent, and 43.3% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 54.7% more expensive than Elkhart, IN without rent, and 33.4% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Elkhart, IN
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$9.92 $9.92
109.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$40.41 $40.41
148.30%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$10.03 $10.03
19.34%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$1.78 $1.78
212.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.84 $2.84
9.51%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$1.56 $1.56
55.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$3.73 $3.73
83.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$5.45 $5.45
55.05%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Elkhart, IN
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$0.93 $0.93
11.83%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$2.11 $2.11
96.68%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$2.52 $2.52
119.05%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$4.17 $4.17
11.51%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$7.08 $7.08
102.40%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$14.25 $14.25
4.42%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$16.16 $16.16
19.68%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$7.69 $7.69
-32.77%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.41 $1.41
21.28%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$2.07 $2.07
113.04%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$2.3 $2.3
96.09%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.81 $2.81
-9.96%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$2.41 $2.41
13.69%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$1.54 $1.54
57.79%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.11 $2.11
27.96%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$8.6 $8.6
76.63%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$12.05 $12.05
36.27%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.84 $1.84
27.72%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$3.41 $3.41
8.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Elkhart, IN
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$1.95 $1.95
29.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
$24.79 $24.79
199.03%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$3.54 $3.54
-5.65%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.59 $1.59
-10.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$29.25 $29.25
-13.09%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.95 $0.95
13.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$29.6K $29.6K
9.70%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$25.2K $25.2K
3.90%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Elkhart, IN
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$315 $315
-40.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$53.3 $53.3
19.62%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$88 $88
-25.93%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Elkhart, IN
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$43.55 $43.55
76.17%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
$5.01 $5.01
160.08%
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$11.15 $11.15
33.90%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Elkhart, IN
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,309 $1,309
57.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$23.5K $23.5K
66.55%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Elkhart, IN
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$35.07 $35.07
83.38%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$40.48 $40.48
29.42%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$66.7 $66.7
42.77%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$114 $114
27.25%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Elkhart, IN
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$980 $980
142.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$859 $859
84.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$2,629 $2,629
81.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$2,227 $2,227
26.42%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$6,736 $6,736
-46.74%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$4,288 $4,288
-41.92%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Elkhart, IN
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$3,212 $3,212
64.22%
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: October 29, 2025

Last update for Elkhart, IN: October 27, 2025

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