Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Frankfort, KY

For one person, living is cheaper in Frankfort, KY: $1,856 a month against $3,139 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $15,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

152

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
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Chicago, IL Living Index
90

Cost of Living Index in Frankfort, KY
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Frankfort, KY Living Index

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Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,139

/mo nomad

Frankfort, KY

🇺🇸 United States

$1,856

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chicago, IL and in Frankfort, KY

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 Frankfort, KY actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,139 per month in Chicago, IL vs $1,856 in Frankfort, KY, rent included.

Chicago, IL $3,139
Frankfort, KY $1,856

A couple spends around $4,627 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,584 in Frankfort, KY, rent included.

Chicago, IL $4,627
Frankfort, KY $2,584

A family of three spends $6,115 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,312 in Frankfort, KY, rent included.

Chicago, IL $6,115
Frankfort, KY $3,312

Chicago, IL costs about 69% more than Frankfort, KY, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chicago, IL and Frankfort, KY sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 132%, Frankfort, KY by 37%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.65 $20.65

$13.80 $13.80

49.64%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$90.2 $90.2

$50.3 $50.3

79.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.94 $12.94

$7.89 $7.89

64.01%

Cappuccino

$5.60 $5.60

$4.13 $4.13

35.59%

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

$2.64 $2.64

$1.27 $1.27

107.87%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.27 $2.27

$1.27 $1.27

78.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.98 $6.98

$9.92 $9.92

-29.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.83 $8.83

$12.13 $12.13

-27.21%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 $1.27

$0.75 $0.75

69.33%

White Bread (500g)

$3.80 $3.80

$2.76 $2.76

37.68%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.30 $5.30

$2.50 $2.50

112.00%

Eggs

$4.76 $4.76

$2.99 $2.99

59.20%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.96 $13.96

$8.22 $8.22

69.83%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.61 $14.61

$6.83 $6.83

113.91%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.77 $18.77

$13.59 $13.59

38.12%

Apples (1kg)

$5.19 $5.19

$1.84 $1.84

182.07%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.03 $1.03

92.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.93 $3.93

$2.48 $2.48

58.47%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.96 $4.96

$2.74 $2.74

81.02%

Potato (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$1.64 $1.64

68.29%

Onion (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$1.77 $1.77

55.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.22 $2.22

$1.50 $1.50

48.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.98 $2.98

$2.05 $2.05

45.37%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.02 $14.02

$8.42 $8.42

66.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.28 $15.28

$13.09 $13.09

16.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$1.70 $1.70

51.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.50 $3.50

$3.48 $3.48

0.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.23 $2.23

10.76%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.8 $74.8

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$4.96 $4.96

-32.66%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.43 $1.43

$1.92 $1.92

-25.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.32 $24.32

$30.82 $30.82

-21.09%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 $1.26

$0.96 $0.96

31.25%

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

$35.0K $35.0K

$22.3K $22.3K

56.92%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$24.8K $24.8K

5.00%

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

$193 $193

$205 $205

-6.03%

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

$68.3 $68.3

$49.01 $49.01

39.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.3 $61.3

$57.8 $57.8

6.09%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.1 $54.1

$45.06 $45.06

20.11%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.92 $27.92

Cinema Ticket

$17.74 $17.74

$12.18 $12.18

45.65%

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

$1,652 $1,652

$533 $533

210.12%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.1K $31.1K

$6,511 $6,511

377.04%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.1 $66.1

$12.92 $12.92

411.38%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.2 $51.2

$14.82 $14.82

245.75%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100 $100

$70.6 $70.6

41.75%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$141 $141

$45.53 $45.53

209.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,446 $2,446

$802 $802

205.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,678 $1,678

$843 $843

99.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,717 $4,717

$1,421 $1,421

231.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,795 $2,795

$1,214 $1,214

130.33%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,105 $4,105

$2,745 $2,745

49.53%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,650 $2,650

$2,387 $2,387

11.00%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,866 $4,866

$2,714 $2,714

79.26%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.81

6.74

1.04%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 19, 2026

Last update for Frankfort, KY: October 17, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Chicago, IL

$1.7K 53.5%

Frankfort, KY

$843 45.4% 49.8% $835

Groceries & Markets

Chicago, IL

$449 14.3%

Frankfort, KY

$276 14.9% 38.5% $173

Eating Out

Chicago, IL

$343 10.9%

Frankfort, KY

$268 14.4% 22.1% $76

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chicago, IL

$322 10.3%

Frankfort, KY

$312 16.8% 3.2% $10

Clothing & Footwear

Chicago, IL

$161 5.1%

Frankfort, KY

$65 3.5% 59.8% $97

Getting Around

Chicago, IL

$95 3%

Frankfort, KY

$23 * 1.3% 75.3% $72

Sport & Entertainment

Chicago, IL

$90 2.9%

Frankfort, KY

$69 3.7% 22.5% $20

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,446 in Chicago, IL versus $802 in Frankfort, KY. 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 79% higher in Chicago, IL, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $90.0 in Chicago, IL versus $50.0 in Frankfort, KY. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $449 vs $276 – making Frankfort, KY the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 Frankfort, KY

🕒 Local time

23:54 11:54 PM

00:54 12:54 AM

1 h ahead of Chicago, IL

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

2,746,388

25,527

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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Chicago, IL Frankfort, KY 470 km

From you

Chicago, IL
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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 Frankfort, KY: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,139 in Chicago, IL, $1,856 in Frankfort, KY – roughly 69% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,708 per month in Chicago, IL and $2,784 in Frankfort, KY. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Frankfort, KY, 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 $90.0 in Chicago, IL and $50.0 in Frankfort, KY. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 63% 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 $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Frankfort, KY, where all-in costs run around $1,856, than in Chicago, IL at $3,139. In Frankfort, KY it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chicago, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,856 in Frankfort, KY to $3,139 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 Frankfort, KY. 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.