Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Grants Pass, OR Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Grants Pass, OR

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,117 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,353 in Grants Pass, OR, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,695 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,225 in Grants Pass, OR, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,273 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,096 in Grants Pass, OR, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 32% more than Grants Pass, OR, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chicago, IL and Grants Pass, OR sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 128%, Grants Pass, OR by 72%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.92 $19.92

$14.90 $14.90

33.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.5 $88.5

$45.08 $45.08

96.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.94 $12.94

$8.78 $8.78

47.38%

Cappuccino

$5.54 $5.54

$3.95 $3.95

40.25%

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

$2.74 $2.74

$2.02 $2.02

35.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 $2.36

$1.03 $1.03

129.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.12 $7.12

$5.15 $5.15

38.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.73 $8.73

$4.06 $4.06

115.02%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$1.11 $1.11

20.72%

White Bread (500g)

$4.17 $4.17

$3.11 $3.11

34.08%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.73 $5.73

$4.08 $4.08

40.44%

Eggs

$4.89 $4.89

$3.95 $3.95

23.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.77 $14.77

$14.46 $14.46

2.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.85 $14.85

$5.63 $5.63

163.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.61 $19.61

$13.38 $13.38

46.56%

Apples (1kg)

$5.57 $5.57

$4.81 $4.81

15.80%

Banana (1kg)

$1.92 $1.92

$1.27 $1.27

51.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.17 $4.17

$3.81 $3.81

9.45%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.86 $4.86

$3.95 $3.95

23.04%

Potato (1kg)

$2.84 $2.84

$1.97 $1.97

44.16%

Onion (1kg)

$2.80 $2.80

$2.00 $2.00

40.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.20 $2.20

$1.87 $1.87

17.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.06 $3.06

$2.22 $2.22

37.84%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$16.16 $16.16

$12.34 $12.34

30.96%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.82 $14.82

$7.16 $7.16

106.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.66 $1.66

52.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.35 $3.35

$2.90 $2.90

15.52%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.55 $2.55

$1.02 $1.02

150.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.6 $75.6

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.30 $3.30

$3.54 $3.54

-6.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.36 $1.36

$2.11 $2.11

-35.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.12 $25.12

$50.8 $50.8

-50.54%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.17 $1.17

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

$36.0K $36.0K

$34.2K $34.2K

5.35%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$23.6K $23.6K

11.16%

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

$191 $191

$221 $221

-13.31%

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

$67.9 $67.9

$59.7 $59.7

13.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.7 $61.7

$78.8 $78.8

-21.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.5 $63.5

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.14 $27.14

Cinema Ticket

$18.02 $18.02

$7.77 $7.77

131.92%

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

$1,522 $1,522

$1,070 $1,070

42.30%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.3K $31.3K

$16.5K $16.5K

89.93%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.7 $63.7

$56.2 $56.2

13.29%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.3 $55.3

$46.64 $46.64

18.46%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100 $100

$84.7 $84.7

18.53%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$153 $153

$81.1 $81.1

88.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,406 $2,406

$1,261 $1,261

90.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,653 $1,653

$1,323 $1,323

24.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,577 $4,577

$1,961 $1,961

133.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,771 $2,771

$1,827 $1,827

51.65%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,031 $4,031

$2,888 $2,888

39.60%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,745 $2,745

$2,950 $2,950

-6.93%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,804 $4,804

$2,473 $2,473

94.26%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.38

6.07

5.11%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: September 13, 2026

Last update for Grants Pass, OR: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,406 in Chicago, IL versus $1,261 in Grants Pass, OR. 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 94% 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 $88.0 in Chicago, IL versus $45.00 in Grants Pass, OR. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $464 vs $325 – making Grants Pass, OR 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 Grants Pass, OR: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,117 in Chicago, IL, $2,353 in Grants Pass, OR – roughly 32% apart. Chicago, IL costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,676 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,530 in Grants Pass, OR. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Grants Pass, OR, 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 $88.0 in Chicago, IL and $45.00 in Grants Pass, OR. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 43% 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 $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Grants Pass, OR, where all-in costs run around $2,353, than in Chicago, IL at $3,117. In Grants Pass, OR 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 $2,353 in Grants Pass, OR to $3,117 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Grants Pass, OR. 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.