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 32.1% more expensive than Lafayette, IN without rent, and 32.2% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 53.8% more expensive than Lafayette, IN without rent, and 53% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Lafayette, IN
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$14.89 $14.89
39.83%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$58.9 $58.9
70.33%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$7.86 $7.86
52.29%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$4.45 $4.45
24.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.13 $2.13
46.01%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$2.1 $2.1
15.24%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$5.09 $5.09
34.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$7.1 $7.1
19.01%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Lafayette, IN
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$0.77 $0.77
35.06%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$3.15 $3.15
31.75%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$3.86 $3.86
43.01%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$3.08 $3.08
50.97%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$10.31 $10.31
38.99%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$9.27 $9.27
60.52%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$15.34 $15.34
26.08%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$4.16 $4.16
24.28%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.37 $1.37
24.82%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$4.02 $4.02
9.70%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$4.79 $4.79
-5.85%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.02 $2.02
25.25%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$2.94 $2.94
-6.80%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$1.68 $1.68
44.64%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$1.33 $1.33
103.01%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$7.79 $7.79
94.99%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$12.95 $12.95
26.80%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.74 $1.74
35.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$1.75 $1.75
111.43%
🚌 Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Lafayette, IN
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$1.48 $1.48
70.95%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
$39.37 $39.37
88.29%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$3.65 $3.65
-8.49%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.74 $1.74
-18.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$20.9 $20.9
21.63%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.81 $0.81
33.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$34.9K $34.9K
-7.13%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$25.3K $25.3K
3.78%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Lafayette, IN
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$120 $120
56.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$56 $56
13.71%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$57.4 $57.4
13.63%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Lafayette, IN
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$32.69 $32.69
134.69%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
$24.83 $24.83
-47.52%
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$11.1 $11.1
34.50%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Lafayette, IN
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,430 $1,430
44.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$17.6K $17.6K
122.22%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Lafayette, IN
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$40.47 $40.47
58.91%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$40.44 $40.44
29.55%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$88.9 $88.9
7.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$90.9 $90.9
59.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Lafayette, IN
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,173 $1,173
102.68%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,230 $1,230
28.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$2,015 $2,015
136.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$1,650 $1,650
70.62%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$1,715 $1,715
109.20%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$1,648 $1,648
51.11%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Lafayette, IN
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$3,038 $3,038
73.62%
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: October 29, 2025

Last update for Lafayette, IN: October 29, 2025

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