Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Iowa City, IA Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Iowa City, IA

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 20.4% more expensive than Iowa City, IA without rent, and 30.9% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 19.1% more expensive than Iowa City, IA without rent, and 49.9% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$15.27 $15.27

36.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$75.8 $75.8

32.32%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$8.76 $8.76

36.64%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$5.26 $5.26

5.70%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.38 $2.38

30.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.79 $1.79

35.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$5.05 $5.05

35.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$7.11 $7.11

18.85%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$0.87 $0.87

19.54%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$2.75 $2.75

50.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$4.74 $4.74

16.46%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$4.09 $4.09

13.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$9.32 $9.32

53.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$10.46 $10.46

42.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$16.66 $16.66

16.09%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$3.29 $3.29

57.14%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.16 $1.16

47.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$2.76 $2.76

59.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$4.64 $4.64

-2.80%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.05 $2.05

23.41%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.86 $2.86

-4.20%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.01 $2.01

20.90%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$1.97 $1.97

37.06%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$9.21 $9.21

64.93%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$12.1 $12.1

35.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.76 $1.76

33.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$4.69 $4.69

-21.11%

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

$15.78 $15.78

369.77%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$4.54 $4.54

-26.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$2.22 $2.22

-36.04%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$42.62 $42.62

-40.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.83 $0.83

30.12%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$24.9K $24.9K

30.14%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$25.5K $25.5K

2.97%

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

$188 $188

$219 $219

-14.24%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$50.2 $50.2

26.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$73.8 $73.8

-11.63%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$48.89 $48.89

56.92%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

$20.26 $20.26

-35.69%

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$12.21 $12.21

22.28%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,252 $1,252

64.76%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$24.9K $24.9K

57.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$67.1 $67.1

-4.09%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$47.76 $47.76

9.69%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$98.3 $98.3

-3.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$116 $116

24.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$1,227 $1,227

93.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,105 $1,105

43.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$2,402 $2,402

98.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$1,549 $1,549

81.74%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$3,842 $3,842

-6.61%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$1,800 $1,800

38.37%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$3,808 $3,808

38.52%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.43

2.64%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Iowa City, IA: October 29, 2025

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