Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Juneau, AK

For one person, living is cheaper in Chicago, IL: $3,037 a month against $3,150 in Juneau, AK, rent and utilities included – about $1,400 less a year. The total is higher in Juneau, AK despite lower rent and utilities.

147

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
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Chicago, IL Living Index
153

Cost of Living Index in Juneau, AK
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Juneau, AK Living Index

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Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,037

/mo nomad

Juneau, AK

🇺🇸 United States

$3,150

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chicago, IL and in Juneau, AK

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chicago, IL and in Juneau, AK actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,037 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,150 in Juneau, AK, rent included.

Chicago, IL $3,037
Juneau, AK $3,150

A couple spends around $4,518 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,821 in Juneau, AK, rent included.

Chicago, IL $4,518
Juneau, AK $4,821

A family of three spends $5,999 per month in Chicago, IL vs $6,492 in Juneau, AK, rent included.

Chicago, IL $5,999
Juneau, AK $6,492

Chicago, IL is about 4% cheaper than Juneau, AK, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chicago, IL and Juneau, AK sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 123%, Juneau, AK by 131%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.71 $20.71

$16.63 $16.63

24.53%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$89.2 $89.2

$88.6 $88.6

0.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.19 $13.19

$15.93 $15.93

-17.20%

Cappuccino

$5.66 $5.66

$6.81 $6.81

-16.89%

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

$2.64 $2.64

$2.78 $2.78

-5.04%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 $2.28

$2.19 $2.19

4.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.87 $6.87

$6.95 $6.95

-1.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.84 $8.84

$7.13 $7.13

23.98%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.25 $1.25

$1.45 $1.45

-13.79%

White Bread (500g)

$3.72 $3.72

$7.63 $7.63

-51.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$4.81 $4.81

12.06%

Eggs

$4.74 $4.74

$5.49 $5.49

-13.66%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.84 $13.84

$22.45 $22.45

-38.35%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.40 $14.40

$15.38 $15.38

-6.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.38 $18.38

$18.72 $18.72

-1.82%

Apples (1kg)

$5.22 $5.22

$6.62 $6.62

-21.15%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$3.70 $3.70

-46.49%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.06 $4.06

$4.81 $4.81

-15.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.97 $4.97

$5.68 $5.68

-12.50%

Potato (1kg)

$2.67 $2.67

$3.03 $3.03

-11.88%

Onion (1kg)

$2.66 $2.66

$4.39 $4.39

-39.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.24 $2.24

$2.81 $2.81

-20.28%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.13 $3.13

$2.64 $2.64

18.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.82 $13.82

$14.78 $14.78

-6.50%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.88 $14.88

$17.11 $17.11

-13.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.54 $2.54

$2.58 $2.58

-1.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.51 $3.51

$3.24 $3.24

8.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.06 $2.06

17.96%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$73.5 $73.5

$39.77 $39.77

84.89%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.18 $3.18

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.39 $1.39

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.03 $25.03

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 $1.20

$1.21 $1.21

-0.83%

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

$35.0K $35.0K

$23.8K $23.8K

47.20%

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

$26.7K $26.7K

$32.6K $32.6K

-18.20%

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

$194 $194

$380 $380

-48.90%

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

$69.5 $69.5

$75.3 $75.3

-7.71%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.6 $61.6

$110 $110

-43.86%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.90 $47.90

$132 $132

-63.63%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.34 $27.34

Cinema Ticket

$17.81 $17.81

$14.75 $14.75

20.75%

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

$1,794 $1,794

$1,586 $1,586

13.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.9K $31.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.0 $67.0

$60.0 $60.0

11.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.1 $52.1

$45.62 $45.62

14.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 $102

$86.0 $86.0

18.13%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$144 $144

$148 $148

-3.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,526 $2,526

$1,644 $1,644

53.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,578 $1,578

$1,341 $1,341

17.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,738 $4,738

$3,029 $3,029

56.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,693 $2,693

$2,724 $2,724

-1.13%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,190 $4,190

$3,481 $3,481

20.36%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,768 $2,768

$3,529 $3,529

-21.56%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,931 $4,931

$4,023 $4,023

22.55%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.81

6.56

3.81%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 25, 2026

Last update for Juneau, AK: October 27, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52%

Juneau, AK

$1.3K 42.6% 15% $237

Groceries & Markets

Chicago, IL

$447 14.7%

Juneau, AK

$550 17.5% 22.9% $102

Eating Out

Chicago, IL

$345 11.4%

Juneau, AK

$331 10.5% 3.9% $13

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chicago, IL

$326 10.7%

Juneau, AK

$566 18% 73.7% $240

Clothing & Footwear

Chicago, IL

$164 5.4%

Juneau, AK

$153 4.9% 6.7% $11

Getting Around

Chicago, IL

$93 3.1%

Juneau, AK

$48 * 1.5% 48.6% $45

Sport & Entertainment

Chicago, IL

$84 2.8%

Juneau, AK

$161 5.1% 93% $78

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,526 in Chicago, IL versus $1,644 in Juneau, AK. 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 23% higher in Chicago, IL, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89 in Chicago, IL versus $89 in Juneau, AK. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $447 vs $550 – making Chicago, IL the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 Juneau, AK

🕒 Local time

00:10 12:10 AM

21:10 9:10 PM

3 h behind Chicago, IL

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

2,746,388

31,000

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.898 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Chicago, IL Juneau, AK 3,700 km ≈ 5 h nonstop flight

From you

Chicago, IL
Juneau, AK

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Juneau, AK: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,037 in Chicago, IL, $3,150 in Juneau, AK – Chicago, IL comes out roughly 4% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,555 per month in Chicago, IL and $4,725 in Juneau, AK. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Juneau, AK, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,644 there versus $2,526 in Chicago, IL.

Public transport costs about 46% less in Juneau, AK. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Groceries cost about 23% more in Juneau, AK, though the gap depends on what you buy.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,037 in Chicago, IL and $3,150 in Juneau, AK. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $3,037 in Chicago, IL to $3,150 in Juneau, AK. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.