Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Independence, MO Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Independence, MO

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 33.7% more expensive than Independence, MO without rent, and 42.2% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 20.7% more expensive than Independence, MO without rent, and 53.8% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$20.14 $20.14

3.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$75.1 $75.1

33.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$11.44 $11.44

4.63%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$4.93 $4.93

12.78%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$3.08 $3.08

0.97%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.94 $1.94

24.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$5.98 $5.98

14.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$7.08 $7.08

19.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.19 $1.19

-12.61%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$3.42 $3.42

21.35%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$4.49 $4.49

22.94%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$3.72 $3.72

25.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$11.64 $11.64

23.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$10.66 $10.66

39.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$12.81 $12.81

50.98%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$4.48 $4.48

15.40%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.45 $1.45

17.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$5.92 $5.92

-25.51%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$6.57 $6.57

-31.35%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.5 $2.5

1.20%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$3.63 $3.63

-24.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.03 $2.03

19.70%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$2.46 $2.46

9.76%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$8.68 $8.68

75.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$13.85 $13.85

18.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.73 $1.73

35.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$4.46 $4.46

-17.04%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.99 $1.99

27.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$2.9 $2.9

15.17%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.52 $1.52

-6.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$21.11 $21.11

20.42%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.76 $0.76

42.11%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$34.4K $34.4K

-5.76%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$26.6K $26.6K

-1.46%

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

$188 $188

$252 $252

-25.17%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$52.2 $52.2

22.03%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$66.3 $66.3

-1.66%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$42.81 $42.81

79.21%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$13.97 $13.97

6.87%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$911 $911

126.41%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$24.6K $24.6K

58.96%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$53.8 $53.8

19.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$38.34 $38.34

36.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$94.8 $94.8

0.39%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$113 $113

27.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$996 $996

138.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$837 $837

89.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$2,366 $2,366

101.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$1,284 $1,284

119.24%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$1,510 $1,510

137.64%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$2,283 $2,283

9.09%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$3,422 $3,422

54.13%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.5

1.54%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Independence, MO: October 27, 2025

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