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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,117 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,394 in Iowa City, IA, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,695 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,329 in Iowa City, IA, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,273 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,264 in Iowa City, IA, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 30% more than Iowa City, IA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chicago, IL and Iowa City, IA sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 128%, Iowa City, IA by 75%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.92 $19.92

$13.86 $13.86

43.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.5 $88.5

$66.8 $66.8

32.53%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.94 $12.94

$9.10 $9.10

42.20%

Cappuccino

$5.54 $5.54

$5.80 $5.80

-4.48%

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

$2.74 $2.74

$2.90 $2.90

-5.52%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 $2.36

$2.22 $2.22

6.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.12 $7.12

$5.05 $5.05

40.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.73 $8.73

$6.83 $6.83

27.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$0.87 $0.87

54.02%

White Bread (500g)

$4.17 $4.17

$2.54 $2.54

64.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.73 $5.73

$4.42 $4.42

29.64%

Eggs

$4.89 $4.89

$3.47 $3.47

40.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.77 $14.77

$9.28 $9.28

59.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.85 $14.85

$10.53 $10.53

41.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.61 $19.61

$20.54 $20.54

-4.53%

Apples (1kg)

$5.57 $5.57

$3.38 $3.38

64.79%

Banana (1kg)

$1.92 $1.92

$1.22 $1.22

57.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.17 $4.17

$2.69 $2.69

55.02%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.86 $4.86

$4.73 $4.73

2.75%

Potato (1kg)

$2.84 $2.84

$2.05 $2.05

38.54%

Onion (1kg)

$2.80 $2.80

$3.09 $3.09

-9.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.20 $2.20

$1.96 $1.96

12.24%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.06 $3.06

$2.44 $2.44

25.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$16.16 $16.16

$9.07 $9.07

78.17%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.82 $14.82

$15.69 $15.69

-5.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.71 $1.71

47.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.35 $3.35

$4.43 $4.43

-24.38%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.55 $2.55

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.6 $75.6

$16.07 $16.07

370.26%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.30 $3.30

$3.92 $3.92

-15.82%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.36 $1.36

$1.95 $1.95

-30.26%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.12 $25.12

$43.35 $43.35

-42.05%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.17 $1.17

$0.99 $0.99

18.18%

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

$36.0K $36.0K

$35.4K $35.4K

1.75%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$25.1K $25.1K

4.48%

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

$191 $191

$270 $270

-29.12%

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

$67.9 $67.9

$53.0 $53.0

28.15%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.7 $61.7

$83.0 $83.0

-25.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.5 $63.5

$49.70 $49.70

27.71%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.14 $27.14

$20.39 $20.39

33.10%

Cinema Ticket

$18.02 $18.02

$13.57 $13.57

32.79%

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

$1,522 $1,522

$1,291 $1,291

17.90%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.3K $31.3K

$23.6K $23.6K

32.65%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.7 $63.7

$63.0 $63.0

1.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.3 $55.3

$49.61 $49.61

11.37%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100 $100

$102 $102

-1.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$153 $153

$114 $114

34.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,406 $2,406

$1,205 $1,205

99.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,653 $1,653

$1,066 $1,066

55.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,577 $4,577

$2,311 $2,311

98.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,771 $2,771

$1,530 $1,530

81.14%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,031 $4,031

$3,763 $3,763

7.11%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,745 $2,745

$1,899 $1,899

44.60%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,804 $4,804

$3,661 $3,661

31.24%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.38

6.26

1.92%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: September 13, 2026

Last update for Iowa City, IA: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,406 in Chicago, IL versus $1,205 in Iowa City, IA. 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 31% 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 $88.0 in Chicago, IL versus $67.0 in Iowa City, IA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $464 vs $365 – making Iowa City, IA 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 Iowa City, IA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,117 in Chicago, IL, $2,394 in Iowa City, IA – roughly 30% apart. Chicago, IL costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,676 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,591 in Iowa City, IA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 27% 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 $88.0 in Chicago, IL and $67.0 in Iowa City, IA. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Iowa City, IA, where all-in costs run around $2,394, than in Chicago, IL at $3,117. In Iowa City, IA 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 $2,394 in Iowa City, IA to $3,117 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 Iowa City, IA. 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.