Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Kailua, HI

For one person, living is cheaper in Chicago, IL: $3,072 a month against $4,083 in Kailua, HI, rent and utilities included – about $12,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

146

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
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Chicago, IL Living Index
198

Cost of Living Index in Kailua, HI
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Kailua, HI Living Index

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Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,072

/mo nomad

Kailua, HI

🇺🇸 United States

$4,083

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chicago, IL and in Kailua, HI

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 Kailua, HI actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,072 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,083 in Kailua, HI, rent included.

Chicago, IL $3,072
Kailua, HI $4,083

A couple spends around $4,545 per month in Chicago, IL vs $6,047 in Kailua, HI, rent included.

Chicago, IL $4,545
Kailua, HI $6,047

A family of three spends $6,019 per month in Chicago, IL vs $8,011 in Kailua, HI, rent included.

Chicago, IL $6,019
Kailua, HI $8,011

Chicago, IL is about 25% cheaper than Kailua, HI, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chicago, IL and Kailua, HI sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 127%, Kailua, HI by 202%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.39 $20.39

$27.34 $27.34

-25.42%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.6 $88.6

$139 $139

-36.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.85 $12.85

$11.30 $11.30

13.72%

Cappuccino

$5.78 $5.78

$6.15 $6.15

-6.02%

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

$2.74 $2.74

$2.93 $2.93

-6.48%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.26 $2.26

$2.39 $2.39

-5.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.88 $6.88

$9.27 $9.27

-25.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.24 $9.24

Milk (1 liter)

$1.26 $1.26

$2.20 $2.20

-42.73%

White Bread (500g)

$3.55 $3.55

$7.29 $7.29

-51.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.38 $5.38

$7.79 $7.79

-30.94%

Eggs

$4.55 $4.55

$8.22 $8.22

-44.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.65 $13.65

$19.21 $19.21

-28.94%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.07 $14.07

$16.23 $16.23

-13.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.06 $18.06

$21.84 $21.84

-17.31%

Apples (1kg)

$5.16 $5.16

$7.72 $7.72

-33.16%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$4.40 $4.40

-55.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.88 $3.88

$7.11 $7.11

-45.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.83 $4.83

$9.67 $9.67

-50.05%

Potato (1kg)

$2.81 $2.81

$3.77 $3.77

-25.46%

Onion (1kg)

$2.67 $2.67

$4.78 $4.78

-44.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.07 $2.07

$4.51 $4.51

-54.10%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.03 $3.03

$3.16 $3.16

-4.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.90 $13.90

$12.94 $12.94

7.42%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.05 $15.05

$16.74 $16.74

-10.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.63 $2.63

$2.66 $2.66

-1.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.45 $3.45

$2.04 $2.04

69.12%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.43 $2.43

$3.98 $3.98

-38.94%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.3 $75.3

$90.5 $90.5

-16.81%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.17 $3.17

$3.49 $3.49

-9.17%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.70 $1.70

$2.65 $2.65

-35.85%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.90 $24.90

$44.72 $44.72

-44.32%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 $1.28

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

$35.8K $35.8K

$35.1K $35.1K

2.06%

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

$26.8K $26.8K

$26.4K $26.4K

1.64%

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

$192 $192

$248 $248

-22.59%

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

$69.6 $69.6

$50.3 $50.3

38.32%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.2 $62.2

$65.8 $65.8

-5.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.79 $47.79

$70.2 $70.2

-31.94%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.10 $27.10

$40.36 $40.36

-32.85%

Cinema Ticket

$17.83 $17.83

$18.85 $18.85

-5.41%

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

$1,815 $1,815

$2,142 $2,142

-15.30%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$40.6K $40.6K

$27.4K $27.4K

48.21%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.2 $66.2

$61.6 $61.6

7.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.4 $51.4

$46.91 $46.91

9.55%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 $103

$101 $101

2.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$130 $130

9.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,531 $2,531

$2,798 $2,798

-9.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,621 $1,621

$2,290 $2,290

-29.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,828 $4,828

$4,185 $4,185

15.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,734 $2,734

$3,745 $3,745

-26.99%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,163 $4,163

$12.3K $12.3K

-66.15%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,723 $2,723

$9,901 $9,901

-72.50%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,924 $4,924

$4,744 $4,744

3.78%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.78

6.79

-0.15%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: November 3, 2026

Last update for Kailua, HI: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52.8%

Kailua, HI

$2.3K 56.1% 41.3% $669

Groceries & Markets

Chicago, IL

$439 14.3%

Kailua, HI

$633 15.5% 44.1% $194

Eating Out

Chicago, IL

$344 11.2%

Kailua, HI

$413 10.1% 19.9% $69

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chicago, IL

$324 10.5%

Kailua, HI

$364 8.9% 12.5% $40

Clothing & Footwear

Chicago, IL

$164 5.3%

Kailua, HI

$152 3.7% 6.8% $11

Getting Around

Chicago, IL

$97 3.2%

Kailua, HI

$123 3% 27.4% $26

Sport & Entertainment

Chicago, IL

$83 2.7%

Kailua, HI

$108 2.6% 29.3% $24

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,531 in Chicago, IL versus $2,798 in Kailua, HI. 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 4% 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 $139 in Kailua, HI. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $439 vs $633 – making Chicago, IL the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 Kailua, HI

🕒 Local time

17:42 5:42 PM

13:42 1:42 PM

4 h behind Chicago, IL

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

2,746,388

11,975

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.888 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

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Between locations

Chicago, IL Kailua, HI 6,800 km ≈ 9 h nonstop flight

From you

Chicago, IL
Kailua, HI

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 Kailua, HI: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,072 in Chicago, IL, $4,083 in Kailua, HI – Chicago, IL comes out roughly 25% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,608 per month in Chicago, IL and $6,125 in Kailua, HI. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Chicago, IL, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $2,531 there versus $2,798 in Kailua, HI.

Groceries cost about 44% more in Kailua, HI, though the gap depends on what you buy.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89 in Chicago, IL and $139 in Kailua, HI. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,072 in Chicago, IL and $4,083 in Kailua, HI. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Chicago, IL – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

For expats, Chicago, IL is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and overall it costs about 25% less, which matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.