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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,184 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,581 in Evanston, IL, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,725 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,458 in Evanston, IL, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,266 per month in Chicago, IL vs $6,335 in Evanston, IL, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 23% more than Evanston, IL, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chicago, IL and Evanston, IL sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 131%, Evanston, IL by 87%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.26 $20.26

$20.16 $20.16

0.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.8 $88.8

$83.9 $83.9

5.83%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.16 $13.16

$13.02 $13.02

1.08%

Cappuccino

$5.77 $5.77

$5.79 $5.79

-0.35%

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

$2.63 $2.63

$2.83 $2.83

-7.07%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 $2.34

$2.35 $2.35

-0.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.06 $7.06

$6.94 $6.94

1.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.18 $9.18

$7.30 $7.30

25.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.30 $1.30

$1.04 $1.04

25.00%

White Bread (500g)

$4.05 $4.05

$3.83 $3.83

5.74%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.69 $5.69

$4.87 $4.87

16.84%

Eggs

$4.85 $4.85

$4.66 $4.66

4.08%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.08 $15.08

$15.20 $15.20

-0.79%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.87 $14.87

$14.90 $14.90

-0.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.28 $19.28

$19.99 $19.99

-3.55%

Apples (1kg)

$5.68 $5.68

$5.45 $5.45

4.22%

Banana (1kg)

$1.93 $1.93

$1.60 $1.60

20.62%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.10 $4.10

$4.09 $4.09

0.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.11 $5.11

$5.10 $5.10

0.20%

Potato (1kg)

$2.92 $2.92

$2.77 $2.77

5.42%

Onion (1kg)

$2.77 $2.77

$2.91 $2.91

-4.81%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.30 $2.30

$2.10 $2.10

9.52%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.04 $3.04

$2.33 $2.33

30.47%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.93 $15.93

$10.59 $10.59

50.42%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.06 $15.06

$15.27 $15.27

-1.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.48 $3.48

$3.47 $3.47

0.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.46 $2.46

2.85%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.8 $74.8

$74.9 $74.9

-0.21%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.28 $3.28

$4.10 $4.10

-20.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.36 $1.36

$1.41 $1.41

-3.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.55 $22.55

$44.46 $44.46

-49.28%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 $1.22

$0.92 $0.92

32.61%

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

$36.1K $36.1K

$36.2K $36.2K

-0.13%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$25.4K $25.4K

2.32%

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

$188 $188

$194 $194

-2.94%

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

$69.0 $69.0

$60.1 $60.1

14.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.6 $63.6

$73.2 $73.2

-13.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.4 $63.4

$74.4 $74.4

-14.74%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.11 $27.11

$60.3 $60.3

-55.05%

Cinema Ticket

$17.90 $17.90

$15.13 $15.13

18.31%

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

$1,526 $1,526

$1,522 $1,522

0.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.9K $31.9K

$31.0K $31.0K

2.90%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.1 $62.1

$64.1 $64.1

-3.14%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$56.4 $56.4

$50.6 $50.6

11.47%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 $101

$109 $109

-7.37%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$156 $156

$127 $127

23.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,342 $2,342

$1,656 $1,656

41.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,698 $1,698

$1,120 $1,120

51.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,576 $4,576

$4,013 $4,013

14.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,806 $2,806

$2,996 $2,996

-6.34%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,130 $4,130

$14.6K $14.6K

-71.63%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,740 $2,740

$13.2K $13.2K

-79.21%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,891 $4,891

$5,241 $5,241

-6.68%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.38

6.44

-0.93%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: September 6, 2026

Last update for Evanston, IL: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,342 in Chicago, IL versus $1,656 in Evanston, IL. 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 7% higher in Evanston, IL, 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 $89.0 in Chicago, IL versus $84.0 in Evanston, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $465 vs $446 – making Evanston, IL 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 Evanston, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,184 in Chicago, IL, $2,581 in Evanston, IL – roughly 23% apart. Chicago, IL costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,776 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,871 in Evanston, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 4% 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 $89.0 in Chicago, IL and $84.0 in Evanston, IL. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,184 in Chicago, IL and $2,581 in Evanston, IL. 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 $2,581 in Evanston, IL to $3,184 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Evanston, IL. 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.