Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Fort Madison, IA Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Fort Madison, IA

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 39.1% more expensive than Fort Madison, IA without rent, and 17.2% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 20.9% more expensive than Fort Madison, IA without rent, and 28.2% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$18.63 $18.63

11.76%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$74.9 $74.9

33.93%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$10.85 $10.85

10.32%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$5 $5

11.20%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.51 $2.51

23.90%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.02 $2.02

19.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$5.87 $5.87

16.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$7.21 $7.21

17.20%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.05 $1.05

-0.95%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$3.43 $3.43

20.99%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$4.29 $4.29

28.67%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$4.18 $4.18

11.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$12.33 $12.33

16.22%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$11.46 $11.46

29.84%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$15.17 $15.17

27.49%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$4.77 $4.77

8.39%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.64 $1.64

4.27%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$4.29 $4.29

2.80%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$4.74 $4.74

-4.85%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.81 $2.81

-9.96%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.79 $2.79

-1.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.04 $2.04

19.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$2.18 $2.18

23.85%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$9.55 $9.55

59.06%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$13.89 $13.89

18.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.85 $1.85

27.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$3.42 $3.42

8.19%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.03 $2.03

24.63%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$3.53 $3.53

-5.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.65 $1.65

-13.94%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$29.13 $29.13

-12.74%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.84 $0.84

28.57%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$29.9K $29.9K

8.48%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$25.7K $25.7K

2.07%

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

$188 $188

$190 $190

-0.78%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$53 $53

20.10%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$68.6 $68.6

-4.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$42.95 $42.95

78.63%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$13.75 $13.75

8.58%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,316 $1,316

56.69%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$23.2K $23.2K

69.08%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$50.7 $50.7

26.89%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$40.59 $40.59

29.07%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$86.2 $86.2

10.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$111 $111

30.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$1,593 $1,593

49.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,349 $1,349

17.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$2,584 $2,584

84.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$2,220 $2,220

26.77%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$2,706 $2,706

32.59%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$2,319 $2,319

7.38%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

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 Fort Madison, IA: October 28, 2025

Similar cities

Amsterdam

🇳🇱 Netherlands

Dallas, TX

🇺🇸 United States

Denver, CO

🇺🇸 United States

Miami, FL

🇺🇸 United States

San Diego, CA

🇺🇸 United States

Philadelphia, PA

🇺🇸 United States

Atlanta, GA

🇺🇸 United States

Minneapolis, MN

🇺🇸 United States