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

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 12.4% more expensive than Kansas City, MO without rent, and 27.1% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 16.3% more expensive than Kansas City, MO without rent, and 37.2% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Kansas City, MO
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.10 $20.10
$20.45 $20.45
-1.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$102 $102
$80.0 $80.0
27.10%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.02 $12.02
$12.13 $12.13
-0.91%
Cappuccino
$5.62 $5.62
$4.82 $4.82
16.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01 $3.01
$2.29 $2.29
31.44%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.85 $1.85
27.03%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.98 $6.98
$5.89 $5.89
18.51%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$6.85 $6.85
23.36%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Kansas City, MO
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 $1.09
$1.21 $1.21
-9.92%
White Bread (500g)
$4.12 $4.12
$3.44 $3.44
19.77%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.57 $5.57
$5.03 $5.03
10.74%
Eggs
$4.51 $4.51
$3.73 $3.73
20.91%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.42 $14.42
$13.87 $13.87
3.97%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.02 $15.02
$10.62 $10.62
41.43%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.98 $18.98
$13.17 $13.17
44.12%
Apples (1kg)
$5.20 $5.20
$4.63 $4.63
12.31%
Banana (1kg)
$1.78 $1.78
$1.51 $1.51
17.88%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.34 $4.34
$6.58 $6.58
-34.04%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.53 $4.53
$6.60 $6.60
-31.36%
Potato (1kg)
$2.55 $2.55
$3.46 $3.46
-26.30%
Onion (1kg)
$2.71 $2.71
$3.60 $3.60
-24.72%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.49 $2.49
$2.23 $2.23
11.66%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.63 $2.63
$2.79 $2.79
-5.73%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.12 $15.12
$6.97 $6.97
116.93%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.91 $14.91
$15.53 $15.53
-3.99%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.47 $2.47
$1.96 $1.96
26.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66 $3.66
$5.23 $5.23
-30.02%
🚌 Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Kansas City, MO
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.57 $2.57
$1.96 $1.96
31.12%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.3 $74.3
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.30 $3.30
$2.55 $2.55
29.41%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.37 $1.37
$2.24 $2.24
-38.84%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$24.96 $24.96
$20.94 $20.94
19.20%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.06 $1.06
$0.81 $0.81
30.86%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.4K $31.4K
$36.8K $36.8K
-14.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$25.5K $25.5K
2.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Kansas City, MO
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$187 $187
$222 $222
-15.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.0 $63.0
$63.2 $63.2
-0.36%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.8 $65.8
$53.4 $53.4
23.26%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Kansas City, MO
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$75.2 $75.2
$59.0 $59.0
27.59%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.95 $12.95
$29.58 $29.58
-56.22%
Cinema Ticket
$15.13 $15.13
$15.22 $15.22
-0.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Kansas City, MO
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,067 $2,067
$1,406 $1,406
47.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$38.8K $38.8K
$28.4K $28.4K
36.68%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Kansas City, MO
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.0 $64.0
$53.3 $53.3
20.03%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.8 $50.8
$41.38 $41.38
22.81%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$97.3 $97.3
$106 $106
-8.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$144 $144
$126 $126
13.56%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Kansas City, MO
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,338 $2,338
$1,372 $1,372
70.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,614 $1,614
$1,025 $1,025
57.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,764 $4,764
$2,407 $2,407
97.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,762 $2,762
$1,692 $1,692
63.23%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,766 $3,766
$2,627 $2,627
43.36%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,614 $2,614
$1,926 $1,926
35.69%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Kansas City, MO
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,006 $5,006
$3,973 $3,973
26.02%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.5
1.54%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: March 3, 2026

Last update for Kansas City, MO: March 1, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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