Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Grand Island, NE Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Grand Island, NE

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 24.6% more expensive than Grand Island, NE without rent, and 18.1% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 24.3% more expensive than Grand Island, NE without rent, and 26.6% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Grand Island, NE
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.10 $20.10
$18.77 $18.77
7.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$102 $102
$75.7 $75.7
34.44%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.02 $12.02
$10.89 $10.89
10.38%
Cappuccino
$5.62 $5.62
$5.03 $5.03
11.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01 $3.01
$2.60 $2.60
15.77%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$2.05 $2.05
14.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.98 $6.98
$5.92 $5.92
17.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$6.82 $6.82
23.90%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Grand Island, NE
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 $1.09
$1.05 $1.05
3.81%
White Bread (500g)
$4.12 $4.12
$3.49 $3.49
18.05%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.57 $5.57
$4.28 $4.28
30.14%
Eggs
$4.51 $4.51
$4.19 $4.19
7.64%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.42 $14.42
$12.15 $12.15
18.68%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.02 $15.02
$11.32 $11.32
32.69%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.98 $18.98
$15.64 $15.64
21.36%
Apples (1kg)
$5.20 $5.20
$4.78 $4.78
8.79%
Banana (1kg)
$1.78 $1.78
$1.59 $1.59
11.95%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.34 $4.34
$4.22 $4.22
2.84%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.53 $4.53
$4.57 $4.57
-0.88%
Potato (1kg)
$2.55 $2.55
$2.88 $2.88
-11.46%
Onion (1kg)
$2.71 $2.71
$2.78 $2.78
-2.52%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.49 $2.49
$2.12 $2.12
17.45%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.63 $2.63
$2.10 $2.10
25.24%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.12 $15.12
$9.85 $9.85
53.50%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.91 $14.91
$14.06 $14.06
6.05%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.47 $2.47
$1.79 $1.79
37.99%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66 $3.66
$3.38 $3.38
8.28%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Grand Island, NE
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.57 $2.57
$2.06 $2.06
24.76%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.3 $74.3
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.30 $3.30
$3.46 $3.46
-4.62%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.37 $1.37
$1.65 $1.65
-16.97%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$24.96 $24.96
$28.75 $28.75
-13.18%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.06 $1.06
$0.90 $0.90
17.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.4K $31.4K
$29.6K $29.6K
6.05%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$25.5K $25.5K
2.86%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Grand Island, NE
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$187 $187
$184 $184
1.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.0 $63.0
$52.2 $52.2
20.59%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.8 $65.8
$66.3 $66.3
-0.66%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Grand Island, NE
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$75.2 $75.2
$42.57 $42.57
76.72%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.95 $12.95
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.13 $15.13
$13.41 $13.41
12.83%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Grand Island, NE
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,067 $2,067
$1,287 $1,287
60.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$38.8K $38.8K
$23.6K $23.6K
64.41%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Grand Island, NE
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.0 $64.0
$50.2 $50.2
27.39%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.8 $50.8
$39.42 $39.42
28.92%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$97.3 $97.3
$87.1 $87.1
11.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$144 $144
$111 $111
29.63%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Grand Island, NE
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,338 $2,338
$1,576 $1,576
48.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,614 $1,614
$1,342 $1,342
20.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,764 $4,764
$2,620 $2,620
81.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,762 $2,762
$2,223 $2,223
24.23%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,766 $3,766
$2,821 $2,821
33.48%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,614 $2,614
$2,457 $2,457
6.37%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Grand Island, NE
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,006 $5,006
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.51
1.38%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: March 3, 2026

Last update for Grand Island, NE: March 3, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

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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