Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Hot Springs, AR Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Hot Springs, AR

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,077 per month in Chicago, IL vs $1,558 in Hot Springs, AR, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,628 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,483 in Hot Springs, AR, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,179 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,409 in Hot Springs, AR, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 98% more than Hot Springs, AR, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chicago, IL and Hot Springs, AR sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 130%, Hot Springs, AR by 16%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.91 $20.91

$19.36 $19.36

8.01%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.1 $98.1

$64.0 $64.0

53.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.86 $11.86

$9.37 $9.37

26.57%

Cappuccino

$5.60 $5.60

$5.02 $5.02

11.55%

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

$3.07 $3.07

$2.38 $2.38

28.99%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$1.76 $1.76

40.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.14 $7.14

$5.10 $5.10

40.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.08 $8.08

$6.35 $6.35

27.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$0.96 $0.96

9.38%

White Bread (500g)

$4.11 $4.11

$2.72 $2.72

51.10%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.61 $5.61

$2.75 $2.75

104.00%

Eggs

$4.51 $4.51

$2.33 $2.33

93.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.27 $14.27

$7.95 $7.95

79.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.89 $14.89

$10.84 $10.84

37.36%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.19 $19.19

$15.59 $15.59

23.09%

Apples (1kg)

$5.14 $5.14

$3.74 $3.74

37.43%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 $1.77

$1.62 $1.62

9.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.39 $4.39

$4.62 $4.62

-4.98%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.56 $4.56

$3.52 $3.52

29.55%

Potato (1kg)

$2.54 $2.54

$3.13 $3.13

-18.85%

Onion (1kg)

$2.75 $2.75

$3.05 $3.05

-9.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.93 $1.93

25.39%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$1.56 $1.56

67.95%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.92 $14.92

$8.13 $8.13

83.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.80 $14.80

$19.22 $19.22

-23.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$1.68 $1.68

46.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 $3.73

$1.86 $1.86

100.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.48 $2.48

$1.26 $1.26

96.83%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.4 $75.4

$27.98 $27.98

169.59%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.18 $3.18

$1.94 $1.94

63.92%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.33 $1.33

6.77%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.94 $24.94

$19.89 $19.89

25.39%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.06 $1.06

$0.74 $0.74

43.24%

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

$31.9K $31.9K

$17.0K $17.0K

87.56%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$22.6K $22.6K

15.06%

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

$185 $185

$213 $213

-13.11%

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

$61.7 $61.7

$58.6 $58.6

5.36%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.9 $66.9

$40.05 $40.05

67.09%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.2 $75.2

$35.20 $35.20

113.55%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.08 $13.08

$9.99 $9.99

30.93%

Cinema Ticket

$14.71 $14.71

$12.70 $12.70

15.83%

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

$2,020 $2,020

$597 $597

238.23%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.4K $39.4K

$27.0K $27.0K

45.79%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.6 $64.6

$39.82 $39.82

62.26%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.5 $52.5

$32.12 $32.12

63.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.8 $97.8

$74.8 $74.8

30.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$148 $148

$81.1 $81.1

81.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,313 $2,313

$607 $607

281.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,590 $1,590

$405 $405

292.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,608 $4,608

$1,005 $1,005

358.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,779 $2,779

$824 $824

237.03%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,922 $3,922

$1,917 $1,917

104.54%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,613 $2,613

$1,948 $1,948

34.12%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,217 $5,217

$3,531 $3,531

47.74%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.36

3.77%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: May 30, 2026

Last update for Hot Springs, AR: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,313 in Chicago, IL versus $607 in Hot Springs, AR. 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 48% 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 $98.0 in Chicago, IL versus $64.0 in Hot Springs, AR. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $447 vs $339 – making Hot Springs, AR 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 Hot Springs, AR: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,077 in Chicago, IL, $1,558 in Hot Springs, AR – roughly 98% apart. Chicago, IL costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,616 per month in Chicago, IL and $2,337 in Hot Springs, AR. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Hot Springs, AR, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 32% 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 mid-range dinner for two costs $98.0 in Chicago, IL and $64.0 in Hot Springs, AR. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Hot Springs, AR, where all-in costs run around $1,558, than in Chicago, IL at $3,077. In Hot Springs, AR 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 $1,558 in Hot Springs, AR to $3,077 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 Hot Springs, AR. 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.