Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Fort Collins, CO Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Fort Collins, CO

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 23.6% more expensive than Fort Collins, CO without rent, and 26.9% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 26% more expensive than Fort Collins, CO without rent, and 24.5% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Fort Collins, CO
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.53 $20.53
$18.13 $18.13
13.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$102 $102
$72.4 $72.4
40.47%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.03 $12.03
$11.55 $11.55
4.16%
Cappuccino
$5.62 $5.62
$4.95 $4.95
13.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07 $3.07
$2.03 $2.03
51.23%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$2.41 $2.41
0.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.98 $6.98
$6.94 $6.94
0.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.10 $8.10
$6.35 $6.35
27.56%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Fort Collins, CO
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$1.01 $1.01
6.93%
White Bread (500g)
$3.95 $3.95
$3.16 $3.16
25.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$3.16 $3.16
74.68%
Eggs
$4.55 $4.55
$4.26 $4.26
6.81%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.58 $14.58
$10.86 $10.86
34.25%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.91 $14.91
$8.47 $8.47
76.03%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.83 $18.83
$16.83 $16.83
11.88%
Apples (1kg)
$5.34 $5.34
$3.83 $3.83
39.43%
Banana (1kg)
$1.76 $1.76
$1.51 $1.51
16.56%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.39 $4.39
$4.35 $4.35
0.92%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.37 $4.37
$5.04 $5.04
-13.29%
Potato (1kg)
$2.55 $2.55
$2.27 $2.27
12.33%
Onion (1kg)
$2.78 $2.78
$1.90 $1.90
46.32%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.46 $2.46
$2.49 $2.49
-1.20%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.66 $2.66
$2.03 $2.03
31.03%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.74 $14.74
$9.56 $9.56
54.18%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.17 $15.17
$17.65 $17.65
-14.05%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.45 $2.45
$2.23 $2.23
9.87%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68 $3.68
$2.69 $2.69
36.80%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Fort Collins, CO
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.52 $2.52
$1.98 $1.98
27.27%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.5 $74.5
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.29 $3.29
$2.52 $2.52
30.56%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.43 $1.43
$1.43 $1.43
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$24.86 $24.86
$24.71 $24.71
0.61%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.09 $1.09
$0.82 $0.82
32.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.3K $31.3K
$27.4K $27.4K
14.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8K $26.8K
$25.4K $25.4K
5.36%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Fort Collins, CO
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$187 $187
$166 $166
12.40%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$62.4 $62.4
$43.15 $43.15
44.52%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$67.1 $67.1
$77.9 $77.9
-13.78%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Fort Collins, CO
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$75.2 $75.2
$60.2 $60.2
24.87%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.17 $13.17
$15.09 $15.09
-12.72%
Cinema Ticket
$15.21 $15.21
$11.97 $11.97
27.07%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Fort Collins, CO
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,039 $2,039
$1,522 $1,522
33.95%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.3K $39.3K
$12.6K $12.6K
211.55%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Fort Collins, CO
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.0 $64.0
$67.1 $67.1
-4.72%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.6 $50.6
$92.5 $92.5
-45.30%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.4 $95.4
$79.1 $79.1
20.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$144 $144
$109 $109
31.22%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Fort Collins, CO
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,355 $2,355
$1,773 $1,773
32.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,613 $1,613
$1,257 $1,257
28.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,728 $4,728
$2,827 $2,827
67.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,754 $2,754
$2,298 $2,298
19.82%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,803 $3,803
$3,029 $3,029
25.53%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,580 $2,580
$2,972 $2,972
-13.21%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Fort Collins, CO
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,738 $4,738
$4,436 $4,436
6.81%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.59
0.15%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chicago, IL: April 14, 2026

Last update for Fort Collins, CO: April 11, 2026

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

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