Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Kodiak, AK: $2,610 a month against $3,037 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $5,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

147

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
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Chicago, IL Living Index
126

Cost of Living Index in Kodiak, AK
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Kodiak, AK Living Index

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Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,037

/mo nomad

Kodiak, AK

🇺🇸 United States

$2,610

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chicago, IL and in Kodiak, 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 Kodiak, AK actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,037 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,610 in Kodiak, AK, rent included.

Chicago, IL $3,037
Kodiak, AK $2,610

A couple spends around $4,518 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,794 in Kodiak, AK, rent included.

Chicago, IL $4,518
Kodiak, AK $3,794

A family of three spends $5,999 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,978 in Kodiak, AK, rent included.

Chicago, IL $5,999
Kodiak, AK $4,978

Chicago, IL costs about 16% more than Kodiak, AK, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chicago, IL and Kodiak, AK sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 123%, Kodiak, AK by 92%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.71 $20.71

$20.33 $20.33

1.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$89.2 $89.2

$74.0 $74.0

20.53%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.19 $13.19

$11.47 $11.47

15.00%

Cappuccino

$5.66 $5.66

$5.23 $5.23

8.22%

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

$2.64 $2.64

$2.69 $2.69

-1.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 $2.28

$2.05 $2.05

11.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.87 $6.87

$5.96 $5.96

15.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.84 $8.84

$7.12 $7.12

24.16%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.25 $1.25

$0.89 $0.89

40.45%

White Bread (500g)

$3.72 $3.72

$3.58 $3.58

3.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$4.42 $4.42

21.95%

Eggs

$4.74 $4.74

$4.12 $4.12

15.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.84 $13.84

$12.37 $12.37

11.88%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.40 $14.40

$11.76 $11.76

22.45%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.38 $18.38

$17.14 $17.14

7.23%

Apples (1kg)

$5.22 $5.22

$4.88 $4.88

6.97%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.62 $1.62

22.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.06 $4.06

$4.09 $4.09

-0.73%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.97 $4.97

$5.28 $5.28

-5.87%

Potato (1kg)

$2.67 $2.67

$2.77 $2.77

-3.61%

Onion (1kg)

$2.66 $2.66

$3.04 $3.04

-12.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.24 $2.24

$2.18 $2.18

2.75%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.13 $3.13

$2.49 $2.49

25.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.82 $13.82

$9.62 $9.62

43.66%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.88 $14.88

$15.03 $15.03

-1.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.54 $2.54

$2.09 $2.09

21.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.51 $3.51

$3.23 $3.23

8.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.83 $1.83

32.79%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$73.5 $73.5

$67.9 $67.9

8.23%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.18 $3.18

$2.84 $2.84

11.97%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.39 $1.39

$1.86 $1.86

-25.27%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.03 $25.03

$31.53 $31.53

-20.62%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 $1.20

$1.03 $1.03

16.50%

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

$35.0K $35.0K

$28.7K $28.7K

22.19%

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

$26.7K $26.7K

$28.1K $28.1K

-5.04%

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

$194 $194

$203 $203

-4.17%

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

$69.5 $69.5

$57.2 $57.2

21.44%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.6 $61.6

$71.0 $71.0

-13.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.90 $47.90

$39.49 $39.49

21.30%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.34 $27.34

Cinema Ticket

$17.81 $17.81

$14.20 $14.20

25.42%

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

$1,794 $1,794

$1,494 $1,494

20.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.9K $31.9K

$23.5K $23.5K

36.08%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.0 $67.0

$53.6 $53.6

25.15%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.1 $52.1

$41.21 $41.21

26.52%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 $102

$82.2 $82.2

23.59%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$144 $144

$115 $115

24.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,526 $2,526

$1,587 $1,587

59.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,578 $1,578

$1,266 $1,266

24.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,738 $4,738

$2,250 $2,250

110.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,693 $2,693

$2,039 $2,039

32.07%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,190 $4,190

$2,808 $2,808

49.18%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,768 $2,768

$2,286 $2,286

21.07%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,931 $4,931

$3,575 $3,575

37.93%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.81

6.57

3.65%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 25, 2026

Last update for Kodiak, AK: October 24, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52%

Kodiak, AK

$1.3K 48.5% 19.7% $312

Groceries & Markets

Chicago, IL

$447 14.7%

Kodiak, AK

$403 15.5% 9.9% $44

Eating Out

Chicago, IL

$345 11.4%

Kodiak, AK

$323 12.4% 6.4% $22

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chicago, IL

$326 10.7%

Kodiak, AK

$331 12.7% 1.7% $5.5

Clothing & Footwear

Chicago, IL

$164 5.4%

Kodiak, AK

$131 5% 19.9% $33

Getting Around

Chicago, IL

$93 3.1%

Kodiak, AK

$87 3.4% 6.4% $6

Sport & Entertainment

Chicago, IL

$84 2.8%

Kodiak, AK

$68 2.6% 18.7% $16

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,526 in Chicago, IL versus $1,587 in Kodiak, 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 38% higher in Chicago, IL. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89 in Chicago, IL versus $74 in Kodiak, AK. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $447 vs $403 – making Kodiak, AK the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 Kodiak, AK

🕒 Local time

17:53 5:53 PM

14:53 2:53 PM

3 h behind Chicago, IL

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

2,746,388

6,000

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.898 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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Between locations

Chicago, IL Kodiak, AK 4,760 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight

From you

Chicago, IL
Kodiak, 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 Kodiak, AK: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,037 in Chicago, IL, $2,610 in Kodiak, AK – Kodiak, AK comes out roughly 14% 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 $3,915 in Kodiak, AK. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Kodiak, AK, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,587 there versus $2,526 in Chicago, IL.

Groceries cost about 11% more in Chicago, IL, though the gap depends on what you buy.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89 in Chicago, IL and $74 in Kodiak, AK. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,037 in Chicago, IL and $2,610 in Kodiak, AK. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

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

If budget matters most, go with Kodiak, AK. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chicago, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.