Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Lafayette, IN Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Lafayette, IN

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 56% more expensive than Lafayette, IN without rent, and 36.2% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 46.4% more expensive than Lafayette, IN without rent, and 56.9% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Lafayette, IN
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.10 $20.10
$14.79 $14.79
35.90%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$102 $102
$58.9 $58.9
72.58%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.02 $12.02
$7.93 $7.93
51.58%
Cappuccino
$5.62 $5.62
$4.39 $4.39
28.02%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01 $3.01
$2.23 $2.23
34.98%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$2.07 $2.07
13.53%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.98 $6.98
$5.02 $5.02
39.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$6.80 $6.80
24.26%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Lafayette, IN
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 $1.09
$0.77 $0.77
41.56%
White Bread (500g)
$4.12 $4.12
$3.25 $3.25
26.77%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.57 $5.57
$3.91 $3.91
42.46%
Eggs
$4.51 $4.51
$3.07 $3.07
46.91%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.42 $14.42
$10.29 $10.29
40.14%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.02 $15.02
$9.71 $9.71
54.69%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.98 $18.98
$15.72 $15.72
20.74%
Apples (1kg)
$5.20 $5.20
$4.23 $4.23
22.93%
Banana (1kg)
$1.78 $1.78
$1.39 $1.39
28.06%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.34 $4.34
$3.98 $3.98
9.05%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.53 $4.53
$4.98 $4.98
-9.04%
Potato (1kg)
$2.55 $2.55
$2.04 $2.04
25.00%
Onion (1kg)
$2.71 $2.71
$2.91 $2.91
-6.87%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.49 $2.49
$1.63 $1.63
52.76%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.63 $2.63
$1.33 $1.33
97.74%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.12 $15.12
$7.77 $7.77
94.59%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.91 $14.91
$13.17 $13.17
13.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.47 $2.47
$1.70 $1.70
45.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66 $3.66
$1.81 $1.81
102.21%
🚌 Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Lafayette, IN
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.57 $2.57
$1.52 $1.52
69.08%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.3 $74.3
$39.31 $39.31
88.96%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.30 $3.30
$3.76 $3.76
-12.23%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.37 $1.37
$1.73 $1.73
-20.81%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$24.96 $24.96
$20.25 $20.25
23.26%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.06 $1.06
$0.83 $0.83
27.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.4K $31.4K
$35.1K $35.1K
-10.52%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$25.6K $25.6K
2.36%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Lafayette, IN
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$187 $187
$119 $119
56.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.0 $63.0
$57.3 $57.3
9.88%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.8 $65.8
$56.6 $56.6
16.31%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Lafayette, IN
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$75.2 $75.2
$33.04 $33.04
127.69%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.95 $12.95
$24.91 $24.91
-48.01%
Cinema Ticket
$15.13 $15.13
$11.07 $11.07
36.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Lafayette, IN
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,067 $2,067
$1,433 $1,433
44.24%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$38.8K $38.8K
$17.5K $17.5K
121.57%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Lafayette, IN
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.0 $64.0
$41.82 $41.82
52.92%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.8 $50.8
$39.28 $39.28
29.38%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$97.3 $97.3
$90.0 $90.0
8.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$144 $144
$88.6 $88.6
61.92%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Lafayette, IN
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,338 $2,338
$1,168 $1,168
100.07%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,614 $1,614
$1,201 $1,201
34.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,764 $4,764
$1,963 $1,963
142.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,762 $2,762
$1,620 $1,620
70.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,766 $3,766
$1,755 $1,755
114.55%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,614 $2,614
$1,795 $1,795
45.64%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Lafayette, IN
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,006 $5,006
$3,199 $3,199
56.47%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.45
2.33%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: March 3, 2026

Last update for Lafayette, IN: 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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