Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Iola, KS Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Iola, KS

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 60% more expensive than Iola, KS without rent, and 27.2% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 68.2% more expensive than Iola, KS without rent, and 51.4% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Iola, KS
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$9.05 $9.05
130.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$35.49 $35.49
182.73%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$8.27 $8.27
44.74%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$4.35 $4.35
27.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$1.62 $1.62
91.98%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$1.97 $1.97
22.84%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$4.03 $4.03
70.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$5.86 $5.86
44.20%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Iola, KS
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$0.67 $0.67
55.22%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$2.92 $2.92
42.12%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$1.61 $1.61
242.86%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$3.38 $3.38
37.57%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$7.22 $7.22
98.48%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$5.64 $5.64
163.83%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$7.74 $7.74
149.87%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$4.46 $4.46
15.92%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.28 $1.28
33.59%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$3.23 $3.23
36.53%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$4.01 $4.01
12.47%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$1.68 $1.68
50.60%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$1.66 $1.66
65.06%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$1.98 $1.98
22.73%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$1.79 $1.79
50.84%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$7.07 $7.07
114.85%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$5.96 $5.96
175.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.72 $1.72
36.63%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$3.48 $3.48
6.32%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Iola, KS
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.02 $2.02
25.25%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$3.05 $3.05
9.51%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.23 $1.23
15.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$36.32 $36.32
-30.01%
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
$29.5K $29.5K
9.95%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$26.3K $26.3K
-0.12%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Iola, KS
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$238 $238
-21.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$68.8 $68.8
-7.47%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$73.5 $73.5
-11.29%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Iola, KS
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$42.26 $42.26
81.54%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$7.44 $7.44
100.67%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Iola, KS
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$780 $780
164.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$23.4K $23.4K
67.78%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Iola, KS
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$20.31 $20.31
216.64%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$33.64 $33.64
55.74%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$39.95 $39.95
138.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$104 $104
39.66%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Iola, KS
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,628 $1,628
46.04%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,380 $1,380
14.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$2,609 $2,609
82.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$2,213 $2,213
27.18%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$3,120 $3,120
15.00%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,705 $2,705
-7.93%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Iola, KS
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$3,362 $3,362
56.89%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.65
-0.75%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Iola, KS: October 29, 2025

Join the CityCost newsletter โ€“ low traffic, no spam, and easy to unsubscribe. Your email stays private.