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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,117 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,608 in Grand Island, NE, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,601 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,790 in Grand Island, NE, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,085 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,971 in Grand Island, NE, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 20% more than Grand Island, NE, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Chicago, IL and Grand Island, NE sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 134%, Grand Island, NE by 96%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.18 $20.18

$18.81 $18.81

7.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$101 $101

$75.3 $75.3

34.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.09 $12.09

$11.03 $11.03

9.61%

Cappuccino

$5.75 $5.75

$4.93 $4.93

16.63%

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

$2.98 $2.98

$2.53 $2.53

17.79%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$2.02 $2.02

21.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.04 $7.04

$5.92 $5.92

18.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.27 $8.27

$7.21 $7.21

14.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$1.05 $1.05

2.86%

White Bread (500g)

$4.14 $4.14

$3.57 $3.57

15.97%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.38 $5.38

$4.37 $4.37

23.11%

Eggs

$4.52 $4.52

$4.14 $4.14

9.18%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.25 $14.25

$12.12 $12.12

17.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.04 $15.04

$11.26 $11.26

33.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.84 $18.84

$15.32 $15.32

22.98%

Apples (1kg)

$5.13 $5.13

$4.90 $4.90

4.69%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 $1.70

$1.63 $1.63

4.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.24 $4.24

$4.30 $4.30

-1.40%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.43 $4.43

$4.84 $4.84

-8.47%

Potato (1kg)

$2.57 $2.57

$2.79 $2.79

-7.89%

Onion (1kg)

$2.73 $2.73

$2.89 $2.89

-5.54%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.52 $2.52

$2.03 $2.03

24.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$2.18 $2.18

20.18%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.91 $14.91

$9.82 $9.82

51.83%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.19 $15.19

$14.27 $14.27

6.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$1.76 $1.76

39.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.74 $3.74

$3.38 $3.38

10.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.48 $2.48

$2.03 $2.03

22.17%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$73.6 $73.6

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.31 $3.31

$3.51 $3.51

-5.70%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.36 $1.36

$1.58 $1.58

-13.92%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.06 $25.06

$28.67 $28.67

-12.59%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$0.83 $0.83

26.51%

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

$32.6K $32.6K

$29.2K $29.2K

11.81%

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

$26.5K $26.5K

$25.1K $25.1K

5.45%

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

$187 $187

$190 $190

-1.20%

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

$63.6 $63.6

$52.8 $52.8

20.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.0 $66.0

$68.8 $68.8

-4.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$77.1 $77.1

$43.35 $43.35

77.88%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.92 $12.92

Cinema Ticket

$15.15 $15.15

$13.52 $13.52

12.06%

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

$2,029 $2,029

$1,274 $1,274

59.32%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$38.7K $38.7K

$23.9K $23.9K

61.70%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.5 $63.5

$50.2 $50.2

26.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.1 $52.1

$40.52 $40.52

28.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.1 $96.1

$85.6 $85.6

12.18%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$148 $148

$113 $113

30.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,343 $2,343

$1,572 $1,572

49.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,623 $1,623

$1,327 $1,327

22.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,601 $4,601

$2,630 $2,630

74.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,774 $2,774

$2,240 $2,240

23.88%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,933 $3,933

$2,738 $2,738

43.64%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,562 $2,562

$2,469 $2,469

3.79%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,176 $5,176

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: June 14, 2026

Last update for Grand Island, NE: June 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,343 in Chicago, IL versus $1,572 in Grand Island, NE. 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 $101 in Chicago, IL versus $75.0 in Grand Island, NE. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $446 vs $387 – making Grand Island, NE 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 Grand Island, NE: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,117 in Chicago, IL, $2,608 in Grand Island, NE – roughly 20% apart. Chicago, IL costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,675 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,912 in Grand Island, NE. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Grand Island, NE, 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 $101 in Chicago, IL and $75.0 in Grand Island, NE. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 15% 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.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,117 in Chicago, IL and $2,608 in Grand Island, NE. 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 $2,608 in Grand Island, NE to $3,117 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 Grand Island, NE. 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.