Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Lafayette, IN: $2,374 a month against $3,139 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $9,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

152

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
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Chicago, IL Living Index
115

Cost of Living Index in Lafayette, IN
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Lafayette, IN Living Index

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Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,139

/mo nomad

Lafayette, IN

🇺🇸 United States

$2,374

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chicago, IL and in Lafayette, IN

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 Lafayette, IN actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,139 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,374 in Lafayette, IN, rent included.

Chicago, IL $3,139
Lafayette, IN $2,374

A couple spends around $4,627 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,412 in Lafayette, IN, rent included.

Chicago, IL $4,627
Lafayette, IN $3,412

A family of three spends $6,115 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,449 in Lafayette, IN, rent included.

Chicago, IL $6,115
Lafayette, IN $4,449

Chicago, IL costs about 32% more than Lafayette, IN, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chicago, IL and Lafayette, IN sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 132%, Lafayette, IN by 75%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.65 $20.65

$16.29 $16.29

26.76%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$90.2 $90.2

$75.3 $75.3

19.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.94 $12.94

$11.41 $11.41

13.41%

Cappuccino

$5.60 $5.60

$4.85 $4.85

15.46%

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

$2.64 $2.64

$2.43 $2.43

8.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.27 $2.27

$2.21 $2.21

2.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.98 $6.98

$4.96 $4.96

40.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.83 $8.83

$7.93 $7.93

11.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 $1.27

$1.10 $1.10

15.45%

White Bread (500g)

$3.80 $3.80

$3.10 $3.10

22.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.30 $5.30

$5.34 $5.34

-0.75%

Eggs

$4.76 $4.76

$3.04 $3.04

56.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.96 $13.96

$8.76 $8.76

59.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.61 $14.61

$10.98 $10.98

33.06%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.77 $18.77

$13.27 $13.27

41.45%

Apples (1kg)

$5.19 $5.19

$4.43 $4.43

17.16%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.91 $1.91

3.66%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.93 $3.93

$4.06 $4.06

-3.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.96 $4.96

$4.80 $4.80

3.33%

Potato (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$2.79 $2.79

-1.08%

Onion (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$2.72 $2.72

1.47%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.22 $2.22

$1.97 $1.97

12.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.98 $2.98

$1.94 $1.94

53.61%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.02 $14.02

$8.12 $8.12

72.66%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.28 $15.28

$12.78 $12.78

19.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$1.76 $1.76

46.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.50 $3.50

$3.37 $3.37

3.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.47 $2.47

$4.89 $4.89

-49.49%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.8 $74.8

$40.79 $40.79

83.28%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$3.27 $3.27

2.14%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.43 $1.43

$1.44 $1.44

-0.69%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.32 $24.32

$20.24 $20.24

20.16%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 $1.26

$0.87 $0.87

44.83%

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

$35.0K $35.0K

$34.3K $34.3K

1.92%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$25.9K $25.9K

0.52%

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

$193 $193

$192 $192

0.44%

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

$68.3 $68.3

$68.6 $68.6

-0.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.3 $61.3

$61.7 $61.7

-0.60%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.1 $54.1

$32.71 $32.71

65.45%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.92 $27.92

$25.24 $25.24

10.62%

Cinema Ticket

$17.74 $17.74

$12.16 $12.16

45.89%

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

$1,652 $1,652

$1,467 $1,467

12.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.1K $31.1K

$30.9K $30.9K

0.37%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.1 $66.1

$49.37 $49.37

33.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.2 $51.2

$39.89 $39.89

28.45%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100 $100

$93.1 $93.1

7.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$141 $141

$50.5 $50.5

178.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,446 $2,446

$1,277 $1,277

91.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,678 $1,678

$1,181 $1,181

42.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,717 $4,717

$2,108 $2,108

123.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,795 $2,795

$1,780 $1,780

57.06%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,105 $4,105

$1,871 $1,871

119.38%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,650 $2,650

$1,829 $1,829

44.87%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,866 $4,866

$3,294 $3,294

47.73%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.81

6.67

2.10%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 19, 2026

Last update for Lafayette, IN: October 18, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Chicago, IL

$1.7K 53.5%

Lafayette, IN

$1.2K 49.8% 29.6% $496

Groceries & Markets

Chicago, IL

$449 14.3%

Lafayette, IN

$356 15% 20.7% $93

Eating Out

Chicago, IL

$343 10.9%

Lafayette, IN

$282 11.9% 17.9% $61

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chicago, IL

$322 10.3%

Lafayette, IN

$322 13.6% 0% $0.1

Clothing & Footwear

Chicago, IL

$161 5.1%

Lafayette, IN

$105 4.4% 35% $56

Getting Around

Chicago, IL

$95 3%

Lafayette, IN

$71 3% 25.6% $24

Sport & Entertainment

Chicago, IL

$90 2.9%

Lafayette, IN

$57 2.4% 36.3% $33

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,446 in Chicago, IL versus $1,277 in Lafayette, IN. 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 48% higher in Chicago, IL, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $90.0 in Chicago, IL versus $75.0 in Lafayette, IN. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $449 vs $356 – making Lafayette, IN the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 Lafayette, IN

🕒 Local time

23:48 11:48 PM

00:48 12:48 AM

1 h ahead of Chicago, IL

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

2,746,388

121,324

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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Chicago, IL Lafayette, IN 170 km

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Chicago, IL
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City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

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Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Chicago, IL vs Lafayette, IN: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,139 in Chicago, IL, $2,374 in Lafayette, IN – roughly 32% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,708 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,562 in Lafayette, IN. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Lafayette, IN, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 26% more in Chicago, IL, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $90.0 in Chicago, IL and $75.0 in Lafayette, IN. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Lafayette, IN, where all-in costs run around $2,374, than in Chicago, IL at $3,139. In Lafayette, IN it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chicago, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,374 in Lafayette, IN to $3,139 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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