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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,077 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,175 in Joplin, MO, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,628 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,905 in Joplin, MO, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,179 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,636 in Joplin, MO, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 41% more than Joplin, MO, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chicago, IL and Joplin, MO sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 130%, Joplin, MO by 62%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.91 $20.91

$20.22 $20.22

3.41%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.1 $98.1

$54.9 $54.9

78.91%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.86 $11.86

$10.11 $10.11

17.31%

Cappuccino

$5.60 $5.60

$4.65 $4.65

20.43%

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

$3.07 $3.07

$1.80 $1.80

70.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$1.60 $1.60

54.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.14 $7.14

$5.03 $5.03

41.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.08 $8.08

$6.10 $6.10

32.46%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$0.87 $0.87

20.69%

White Bread (500g)

$4.11 $4.11

$2.95 $2.95

39.32%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.61 $5.61

$2.07 $2.07

171.01%

Eggs

$4.51 $4.51

$3.81 $3.81

18.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.27 $14.27

$9.94 $9.94

43.56%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.89 $14.89

$6.36 $6.36

134.12%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.19 $19.19

$17.98 $17.98

6.73%

Apples (1kg)

$5.14 $5.14

$4.86 $4.86

5.76%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 $1.77

$1.59 $1.59

11.32%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.39 $4.39

$2.86 $2.86

53.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.56 $4.56

$2.19 $2.19

108.22%

Potato (1kg)

$2.54 $2.54

$2.55 $2.55

-0.39%

Onion (1kg)

$2.75 $2.75

$2.36 $2.36

16.53%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.82 $1.82

32.97%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$1.81 $1.81

44.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.92 $14.92

$9.60 $9.60

55.42%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.80 $14.80

$15.14 $15.14

-2.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$1.69 $1.69

45.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 $3.73

$3.78 $3.78

-1.32%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.48 $2.48

$2.05 $2.05

20.98%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.4 $75.4

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.18 $3.18

$2.57 $2.57

23.74%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.56 $1.56

-8.97%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.94 $24.94

$26.30 $26.30

-5.17%

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

$28.4K $28.4K

12.44%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$23.9K $23.9K

9.00%

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

$185 $185

$326 $326

-43.24%

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

$61.7 $61.7

$43.23 $43.23

42.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.9 $66.9

$70.3 $70.3

-4.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.2 $75.2

$19.87 $19.87

278.31%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.08 $13.08

Cinema Ticket

$14.71 $14.71

$12.77 $12.77

15.19%

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

$2,020 $2,020

$923 $923

118.92%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.4K $39.4K

$16.2K $16.2K

143.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.6 $64.6

$39.86 $39.86

62.09%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.5 $52.5

$38.78 $38.78

35.25%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.8 $97.8

$100 $100

-2.31%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$148 $148

$70.2 $70.2

110.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,313 $2,313

$1,153 $1,153

100.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,590 $1,590

$994 $994

59.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,608 $4,608

$1,610 $1,610

186.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,779 $2,779

$1,222 $1,222

127.47%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,922 $3,922

$1,486 $1,486

163.83%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,613 $2,613

$1,447 $1,447

80.54%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,217 $5,217

$3,391 $3,391

53.86%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.17

6.97%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: May 30, 2026

Last update for Joplin, MO: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,313 in Chicago, IL versus $1,153 in Joplin, MO. 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 54% 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 $55.0 in Joplin, MO. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $447 vs $321 – making Joplin, MO 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 Joplin, MO: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,077 in Chicago, IL, $2,175 in Joplin, MO – roughly 41% 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 $3,262 in Joplin, MO. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $98.0 in Chicago, IL and $55.0 in Joplin, MO. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 39% 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 $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Joplin, MO, where all-in costs run around $2,175, than in Chicago, IL at $3,077. In Joplin, MO 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 $2,175 in Joplin, MO 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 Joplin, MO. 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.