Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Kansas City, KS Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Kansas City, KS

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 12.6% more expensive than Kansas City, KS without rent, and 11.3% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 0.7% more expensive than Kansas City, KS without rent, and 20.3% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Kansas City, KS
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$20.39 $20.39
2.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$65.9 $65.9
52.26%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$12.12 $12.12
-1.24%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$5.05 $5.05
10.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.31 $2.31
34.63%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$1.86 $1.86
30.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$4.98 $4.98
37.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$7.01 $7.01
20.54%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Kansas City, KS
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$0.94 $0.94
10.64%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$3.42 $3.42
21.35%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$4.86 $4.86
13.58%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$4.53 $4.53
2.65%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$10.92 $10.92
31.23%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$11.05 $11.05
34.66%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$12.89 $12.89
50.04%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$5.33 $5.33
-3.00%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$2.02 $2.02
-15.35%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$6.46 $6.46
-31.73%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$5.83 $5.83
-22.64%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$4.17 $4.17
-39.33%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$3.6 $3.6
-23.89%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.29 $2.29
6.11%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.23 $2.23
21.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$9.65 $9.65
57.41%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$14.82 $14.82
10.80%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.72 $1.72
36.63%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$5.26 $5.26
-29.66%
🚌 Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Kansas City, KS
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$1.53 $1.53
65.36%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
$54.1 $54.1
37.13%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$4.95 $4.95
-32.53%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.59 $1.59
-10.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$41.96 $41.96
-39.42%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.82 $0.82
31.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$30K $30K
7.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$25.7K $25.7K
2.22%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Kansas City, KS
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$194 $194
-2.86%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$53 $53
20.23%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$53.2 $53.2
22.63%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Kansas City, KS
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$113 $113
-32.21%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
$65.1 $65.1
-80.00%
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$14.98 $14.98
-0.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Kansas City, KS
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,073 $1,073
92.25%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$28.4K $28.4K
37.79%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Kansas City, KS
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$48.4 $48.4
32.87%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$34.31 $34.31
52.70%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$90.9 $90.9
4.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$124 $124
16.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Kansas City, KS
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,346 $1,346
76.70%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,317 $1,317
20.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$3,398 $3,398
40.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$2,176 $2,176
29.37%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$2,348 $2,348
52.82%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,392 $2,392
4.11%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Kansas City, KS
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$3,191 $3,191
65.29%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.54
0.92%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Kansas City, KS: October 29, 2025

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