Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Elko, NV

For one person, living is cheaper in Elko, NV: $2,632 a month against $3,139 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $6,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

152

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
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Chicago, IL Living Index
126

Cost of Living Index in Elko, NV
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Elko, NV Living Index

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Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,139

/mo nomad

Elko, NV

🇺🇸 United States

$2,632

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chicago, IL and in Elko, NV

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chicago, IL and in Elko, NV actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,139 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,632 in Elko, NV, rent included.

Chicago, IL $3,139
Elko, NV $2,632

A couple spends around $4,627 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,813 in Elko, NV, rent included.

Chicago, IL $4,627
Elko, NV $3,813

A family of three spends $6,115 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,995 in Elko, NV, rent included.

Chicago, IL $6,115
Elko, NV $4,995

Chicago, IL costs about 19% more than Elko, NV, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both Chicago, IL and Elko, NV sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 132%, Elko, NV by 94%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.65 $20.65

$20.36 $20.36

1.42%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$90.2 $90.2

$74.9 $74.9

20.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.94 $12.94

$11.54 $11.54

12.13%

Cappuccino

$5.60 $5.60

$5.46 $5.46

2.56%

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

$2.64 $2.64

$2.63 $2.63

0.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.27 $2.27

$2.02 $2.02

12.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.98 $6.98

$6.03 $6.03

15.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.83 $8.83

$7.38 $7.38

19.65%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 $1.27

$1.01 $1.01

25.74%

White Bread (500g)

$3.80 $3.80

$5.64 $5.64

-32.62%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.30 $5.30

$4.40 $4.40

20.45%

Eggs

$4.76 $4.76

$4.15 $4.15

14.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.96 $13.96

$12.52 $12.52

11.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.61 $14.61

$11.56 $11.56

26.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.77 $18.77

$17.30 $17.30

8.50%

Apples (1kg)

$5.19 $5.19

$4.87 $4.87

6.57%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.52 $1.52

30.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.93 $3.93

$4.39 $4.39

-10.48%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.96 $4.96

$4.60 $4.60

7.83%

Potato (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$2.82 $2.82

-2.13%

Onion (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$2.93 $2.93

-5.80%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.22 $2.22

$2.11 $2.11

5.21%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.98 $2.98

$2.27 $2.27

31.28%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.02 $14.02

$10.06 $10.06

39.36%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.28 $15.28

$14.79 $14.79

3.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$1.99 $1.99

29.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.50 $3.50

$3.42 $3.42

2.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.47 $2.47

$1.88 $1.88

31.38%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.8 $74.8

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$3.16 $3.16

5.70%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.43 $1.43

$1.72 $1.72

-16.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.32 $24.32

$33.57 $33.57

-27.55%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 $1.26

$1.32 $1.32

-4.55%

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

$35.0K $35.0K

$27.8K $27.8K

25.87%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$23.1K $23.1K

12.81%

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

$193 $193

$202 $202

-4.38%

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

$68.3 $68.3

$75.2 $75.2

-9.19%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.3 $61.3

$70.2 $70.2

-12.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.1 $54.1

$41.44 $41.44

30.60%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.92 $27.92

Cinema Ticket

$17.74 $17.74

$13.78 $13.78

28.74%

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

$1,652 $1,652

$1,423 $1,423

16.09%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.1K $31.1K

$23.5K $23.5K

32.22%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.1 $66.1

$53.7 $53.7

22.97%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.2 $51.2

$41.59 $41.59

23.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100 $100

$86.8 $86.8

15.29%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$141 $141

$116 $116

21.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,446 $2,446

$1,587 $1,587

54.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,678 $1,678

$1,318 $1,318

27.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,717 $4,717

$2,655 $2,655

77.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,795 $2,795

$2,104 $2,104

32.89%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,105 $4,105

$2,721 $2,721

50.87%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,650 $2,650

$2,725 $2,725

-2.78%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,866 $4,866

$6,085 $6,085

-20.04%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.81

6.85

-0.58%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 19, 2026

Last update for Elko, NV: October 17, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Chicago, IL

$1.7K 53.5%

Elko, NV

$1.3K 50.1% 21.5% $360

Groceries & Markets

Chicago, IL

$449 14.3%

Elko, NV

$418 15.9% 6.9% $31

Eating Out

Chicago, IL

$343 10.9%

Elko, NV

$326 12.4% 5% $17

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chicago, IL

$322 10.3%

Elko, NV

$347 13.2% 7.7% $25

Clothing & Footwear

Chicago, IL

$161 5.1%

Elko, NV

$134 5.1% 16.9% $27

Getting Around

Chicago, IL

$95 3%

Elko, NV

$19 * 0.7% 79.7% $76

Sport & Entertainment

Chicago, IL

$90 2.9%

Elko, NV

$69 2.6% 23% $21

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,446 in Chicago, IL versus $1,587 in Elko, NV. 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 25% higher in Elko, NV, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $90 in Chicago, IL versus $75 in Elko, NV. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $449 vs $418 – making Elko, NV the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 Elko, NV

🕒 Local time

20:51 8:51 PM

18:51 6:51 PM

2 h behind Chicago, IL

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

2,746,388

21,018

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.893 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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Between locations

Chicago, IL Elko, NV 2,340 km ≈ 3 h 30 min nonstop flight

From you

Chicago, IL
Elko, NV

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Elko, NV: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,139 in Chicago, IL, $2,632 in Elko, NV – roughly 19% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in transport.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,708 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,948 in Elko, NV. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Elko, NV, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,587 there versus $2,446 in Chicago, IL.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $90 in Chicago, IL and $75 in Elko, NV. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 7% 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.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,139 in Chicago, IL and $2,632 in Elko, NV. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Elko, NV – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.