Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Kauai, Hawaii Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Kauai, Hawaii

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 24.7% more expensive than Kauai, Hawaii without rent, and 19.7% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 24.5% more expensive than Kauai, Hawaii without rent, and 22.4% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.53 $20.53

$18.82 $18.82

9.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.3 $99.3

$75.7 $75.7

31.22%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.22 $12.22

$10.93 $10.93

11.80%

Cappuccino

$5.75 $5.75

$5.18 $5.18

11.00%

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

$2.97 $2.97

$2.57 $2.57

15.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.37 $2.37

$2.05 $2.05

15.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.03 $7.03

$5.89 $5.89

19.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.3 $8.3

$6.79 $6.79

22.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$1 $1

5.00%

White Bread (500g)

$3.99 $3.99

$3.54 $3.54

12.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.48 $5.48

$4.43 $4.43

23.70%

Eggs

$4.71 $4.71

$4.18 $4.18

12.68%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.09 $14.09

$12.38 $12.38

13.81%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.15 $15.15

$11.63 $11.63

30.27%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.09 $19.09

$15.4 $15.4

23.96%

Apples (1kg)

$5.23 $5.23

$4.94 $4.94

5.87%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.59 $1.59

7.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.33 $4.33

$4.15 $4.15

4.34%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.4 $4.4

$4.83 $4.83

-8.90%

Potato (1kg)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.88 $2.88

-15.62%

Onion (1kg)

$2.84 $2.84

$2.87 $2.87

-1.05%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.38 $2.38

$2.01 $2.01

18.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.57 $2.57

$2.18 $2.18

17.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.21 $15.21

$9.39 $9.39

61.98%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.26 $15.26

$13.88 $13.88

9.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.45 $2.45

$1.77 $1.77

38.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.62 $3.62

$3.34 $3.34

8.38%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.98 $1.98

22.73%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$76.2 $76.2

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.19 $3.19

$3.52 $3.52

-9.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.44 $1.44

$1.64 $1.64

-12.20%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.54 $24.54

$28.95 $28.95

-15.23%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$0.89 $0.89

16.85%

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

$32K $32K

$29.8K $29.8K

7.37%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$26K $26K

1.73%

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

$186 $186

0.36%

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

$62.7 $62.7

$52.8 $52.8

18.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66 $66

$68.6 $68.6

-3.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.1 $75.1

$42.28 $42.28

77.51%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.92 $12.92

Cinema Ticket

$14.95 $14.95

$13.29 $13.29

12.49%

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

$2,046 $2,046

$1,318 $1,318

55.26%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$38.7K $38.7K

$23.3K $23.3K

66.37%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.9 $64.9

$51.5 $51.5

25.92%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52 $52

$40.22 $40.22

29.39%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.6 $95.6

$88 $88

8.65%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$114 $114

25.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,330 $2,330

$1,622 $1,622

43.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,591 $1,591

$1,356 $1,356

17.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,654 $4,654

$2,593 $2,593

79.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,777 $2,777

$2,260 $2,260

22.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,674 $3,674

$2,730 $2,730

34.59%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,686 $2,686

$2,469 $2,469

8.80%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,293 $5,293

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.51

1.38%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: November 29, 2025

Last update for Kauai, Hawaii: November 29, 2025

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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