Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Flagstaff, AZ

For one person, living is cheaper in Chicago, IL: $3,037 a month against $3,120 in Flagstaff, AZ, rent and utilities included – about $1,000 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Flagstaff, AZ outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

147

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
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Chicago, IL Living Index
150

Cost of Living Index in Flagstaff, AZ
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Flagstaff, AZ Living Index

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Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,037

/mo nomad

Flagstaff, AZ

🇺🇸 United States

$3,120

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chicago, IL and in Flagstaff, AZ

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 Flagstaff, AZ actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,037 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,120 in Flagstaff, AZ, rent included.

Chicago, IL $3,037
Flagstaff, AZ $3,120

A couple spends around $4,518 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,202 in Flagstaff, AZ, rent included.

Chicago, IL $4,518
Flagstaff, AZ $4,202

A family of three spends $5,999 per month in Chicago, IL vs $5,284 in Flagstaff, AZ, rent included.

Chicago, IL $5,999
Flagstaff, AZ $5,284

Chicago, IL is about 3% cheaper than Flagstaff, AZ, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in leisure.

Both Chicago, IL and Flagstaff, AZ sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 123%, Flagstaff, AZ by 129%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.71 $20.71

$20.09 $20.09

3.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$89.2 $89.2

$80.7 $80.7

10.53%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.19 $13.19

$14.52 $14.52

-9.16%

Cappuccino

$5.66 $5.66

$6.02 $6.02

-5.98%

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

$2.64 $2.64

$3.17 $3.17

-16.72%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 $2.28

$2.37 $2.37

-3.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.87 $6.87

$5.95 $5.95

15.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.84 $8.84

$6.91 $6.91

27.93%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.25 $1.25

$0.77 $0.77

62.34%

White Bread (500g)

$3.72 $3.72

$2.62 $2.62

41.98%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$4.16 $4.16

29.57%

Eggs

$4.74 $4.74

$4.26 $4.26

11.27%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.84 $13.84

$13.56 $13.56

2.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.40 $14.40

$7.28 $7.28

97.80%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.38 $18.38

$11.05 $11.05

66.33%

Apples (1kg)

$5.22 $5.22

$3.69 $3.69

41.46%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.92 $1.92

3.13%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.06 $4.06

$3.69 $3.69

10.03%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.97 $4.97

$3.89 $3.89

27.76%

Potato (1kg)

$2.67 $2.67

$2.26 $2.26

18.14%

Onion (1kg)

$2.66 $2.66

$2.21 $2.21

20.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.24 $2.24

$2.27 $2.27

-1.32%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.13 $3.13

$2.57 $2.57

21.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.82 $13.82

$10.48 $10.48

31.87%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.88 $14.88

$12.15 $12.15

22.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.54 $2.54

$2.08 $2.08

22.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.51 $3.51

$2.35 $2.35

49.36%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.22 $1.22

99.18%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$73.5 $73.5

$33.78 $33.78

117.67%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.18 $3.18

$2.82 $2.82

12.77%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.39 $1.39

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.03 $25.03

$35.39 $35.39

-29.27%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 $1.20

$1.12 $1.12

7.14%

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

$35.0K $35.0K

$36.1K $36.1K

-2.93%

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

$26.7K $26.7K

-0.00%

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

$194 $194

$232 $232

-16.31%

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

$69.5 $69.5

$53.0 $53.0

31.14%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.6 $61.6

$73.4 $73.4

-15.96%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.90 $47.90

$68.5 $68.5

-30.02%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.34 $27.34

$20.13 $20.13

35.82%

Cinema Ticket

$17.81 $17.81

$13.94 $13.94

27.76%

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

$1,794 $1,794

$1,617 $1,617

10.94%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.9K $31.9K

$23.5K $23.5K

35.86%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.0 $67.0

$59.6 $59.6

12.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.1 $52.1

$34.78 $34.78

49.91%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 $102

$103 $103

-1.16%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$144 $144

$125 $125

15.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,526 $2,526

$1,859 $1,859

35.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,578 $1,578

$1,797 $1,797

-12.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,738 $4,738

$3,195 $3,195

48.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,693 $2,693

$2,396 $2,396

12.41%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,190 $4,190

$5,742 $5,742

-27.03%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,768 $2,768

$4,017 $4,017

-31.10%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,931 $4,931

$3,945 $3,945

24.98%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.81

6.46

5.42%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 25, 2026

Last update for Flagstaff, AZ: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52%

Flagstaff, AZ

$1.8K 57.6% 13.9% $219

Groceries & Markets

Chicago, IL

$447 14.7%

Flagstaff, AZ

$333 10.7% 25.7% $115

Eating Out

Chicago, IL

$345 11.4%

Flagstaff, AZ

$342 11% 0.8% $2.6

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chicago, IL

$326 10.7%

Flagstaff, AZ

$359 11.5% 10.2% $33

Clothing & Footwear

Chicago, IL

$164 5.4%

Flagstaff, AZ

$145 4.6% 11.7% $19

Getting Around

Chicago, IL

$93 3.1%

Flagstaff, AZ

$48 1.6% 48.1% $45

Sport & Entertainment

Chicago, IL

$84 2.8%

Flagstaff, AZ

$96 3.1% 15.3% $13

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,526 in Chicago, IL versus $1,859 in Flagstaff, AZ. 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 Chicago, 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 in Chicago, IL versus $81 in Flagstaff, AZ. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $447 vs $333 – making Flagstaff, AZ the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 Flagstaff, AZ

🕒 Local time

12:55 12:55 PM

11:55 11:55 AM

1 h behind Chicago, IL

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

2,746,388

76,831

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.896 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

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Between locations

Chicago, IL Flagstaff, AZ 2,210 km ≈ 3 h 15 min nonstop flight

From you

Chicago, IL
Flagstaff, AZ

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 Flagstaff, AZ: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,037 in Chicago, IL, $3,120 in Flagstaff, AZ – Chicago, IL comes out roughly 3% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in leisure.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,555 per month in Chicago, IL and $4,681 in Flagstaff, AZ. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Flagstaff, AZ, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,859 there versus $2,526 in Chicago, IL.

Interestingly, groceries are about 26% cheaper in Flagstaff, AZ – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89 in Chicago, IL and $81 in Flagstaff, AZ. 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 $3,037 in Chicago, IL and $3,120 in Flagstaff, AZ. 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 $3,037 in Chicago, IL to $3,120 in Flagstaff, AZ. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.