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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,009 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,534 in Fort Madison, IA, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,593 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,759 in Fort Madison, IA, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,177 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,983 in Fort Madison, IA, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 19% more than Fort Madison, IA, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Chicago, IL and Fort Madison, IA sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 125%, Fort Madison, IA by 89%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.35 $20.35

$19.29 $19.29

5.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$102 $102

$75.8 $75.8

34.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.98 $11.98

$11.07 $11.07

8.22%

Cappuccino

$5.70 $5.70

$5.16 $5.16

10.47%

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

$3.00 $3.00

$2.47 $2.47

21.46%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$1.97 $1.97

24.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.87 $6.87

$6.13 $6.13

12.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.09 $8.09

$7.04 $7.04

14.91%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.03 $1.03

$1.00 $1.00

3.00%

White Bread (500g)

$3.95 $3.95

$3.42 $3.42

15.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.42 $5.42

$4.33 $4.33

25.17%

Eggs

$4.50 $4.50

$4.31 $4.31

4.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.53 $14.53

$12.33 $12.33

17.84%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.89 $14.89

$11.30 $11.30

31.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.98 $18.98

$15.21 $15.21

24.79%

Apples (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$4.85 $4.85

11.13%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 $1.77

$1.61 $1.61

9.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.35 $4.35

$4.32 $4.32

0.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.53 $4.53

$4.83 $4.83

-6.21%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.87 $2.87

-11.85%

Onion (1kg)

$2.81 $2.81

$2.83 $2.83

-0.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.51 $2.51

$2.00 $2.00

25.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.67 $2.67

$2.11 $2.11

26.54%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.88 $14.88

$9.44 $9.44

57.63%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.22 $15.22

$14.81 $14.81

2.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$1.78 $1.78

38.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.53 $3.53

$3.42 $3.42

3.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.56 $2.56

$1.99 $1.99

28.64%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.3 $74.3

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.19 $3.19

$3.54 $3.54

-9.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.41 $1.41

$1.58 $1.58

-10.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.49 $25.49

$28.61 $28.61

-10.91%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$0.91 $0.91

14.29%

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

$32.2K $32.2K

$29.4K $29.4K

9.42%

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

$26.8K $26.8K

$25.2K $25.2K

6.08%

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

$184 $184

$190 $190

-3.41%

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

$63.1 $63.1

$52.1 $52.1

21.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.4 $66.4

$67.9 $67.9

-2.21%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.9 $75.9

$42.96 $42.96

76.70%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.06 $13.06

Cinema Ticket

$15.25 $15.25

$13.26 $13.26

15.01%

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

$2,090 $2,090

$1,308 $1,308

59.85%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$23.0K $23.0K

70.50%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.2 $64.2

$51.4 $51.4

25.00%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.0 $51.0

$40.04 $40.04

27.37%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.2 $97.2

$88.2 $88.2

10.18%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$149 $149

$113 $113

31.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,341 $2,341

$1,587 $1,587

47.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,572 $1,572

$1,371 $1,371

14.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,741 $4,741

$2,655 $2,655

78.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,819 $2,819

$2,231 $2,231

26.36%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,900 $3,900

$2,709 $2,709

43.96%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,638 $2,638

$2,365 $2,365

11.57%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,769 $4,769

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: April 25, 2026

Last update for Fort Madison, IA: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,341 in Chicago, IL versus $1,587 in Fort Madison, IA. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $102 in Chicago, IL versus $76.0 in Fort Madison, IA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $447 vs $386 – making Fort Madison, IA 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 Fort Madison, IA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,009 in Chicago, IL, $2,534 in Fort Madison, IA – roughly 19% apart. Chicago, IL costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,513 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,801 in Fort Madison, IA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $102 in Chicago, IL and $76.0 in Fort Madison, IA. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 16% 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.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,009 in Chicago, IL and $2,534 in Fort Madison, IA. 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 $2,534 in Fort Madison, IA to $3,009 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 Fort Madison, IA. 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.