Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Highlands Ranch, CO Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Highlands Ranch, CO

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 39.3% more expensive than Highlands Ranch, CO without rent, and 20.4% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 25.8% more expensive than Highlands Ranch, CO without rent, and 30.6% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$15.11 $15.11

37.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$72.8 $72.8

37.89%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$10.14 $10.14

18.05%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$4.96 $4.96

12.10%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.03 $2.03

53.20%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.41 $2.41

0.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$5.13 $5.13

33.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$6.16 $6.16

37.18%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.06 $1.06

-1.89%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$3.17 $3.17

30.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$3.21 $3.21

71.96%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$4.03 $4.03

15.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$10.91 $10.91

31.35%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$7.43 $7.43

100.27%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$16.78 $16.78

15.26%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$3.85 $3.85

34.29%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.48 $1.48

15.54%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$4.31 $4.31

2.32%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$4.92 $4.92

-8.33%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.27 $2.27

11.45%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$1.87 $1.87

46.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.49 $2.49

-2.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$1.95 $1.95

38.46%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$9.58 $9.58

58.56%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$17.73 $17.73

-7.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$2.22 $2.22

5.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$2.66 $2.66

39.10%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.97 $1.97

28.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$2.51 $2.51

33.07%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.44 $1.44

-1.39%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$25.47 $25.47

-0.20%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.82 $0.82

31.71%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$27.1K $27.1K

19.44%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$26K $26K

0.95%

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

$188 $188

$164 $164

14.68%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$43.12 $43.12

47.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$76.2 $76.2

-14.42%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$43.23 $43.23

77.47%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$11.79 $11.79

26.63%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,544 $1,544

33.56%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$12.7K $12.7K

207.48%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$58.9 $58.9

9.26%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$91.3 $91.3

-42.64%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$80.8 $80.8

17.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$107 $107

35.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$1,584 $1,584

50.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,362 $1,362

16.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$2,602 $2,602

83.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$2,238 $2,238

25.78%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$2,782 $2,782

28.95%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$2,437 $2,437

2.20%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$7,804 $7,804

-32.40%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.59

0.15%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Highlands Ranch, CO: October 27, 2025

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