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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,009 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,349 in Lafayette, LA, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,593 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,612 in Lafayette, LA, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,177 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,875 in Lafayette, LA, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 28% more than Lafayette, LA, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Chicago, IL and Lafayette, LA sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 125%, Lafayette, LA by 75%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.35 $20.35

$20.32 $20.32

0.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$102 $102

$100 $100

1.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.98 $11.98

$9.98 $9.98

20.04%

Cappuccino

$5.70 $5.70

$5.22 $5.22

9.20%

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

$3.00 $3.00

$2.54 $2.54

18.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$1.80 $1.80

36.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.87 $6.87

$4.06 $4.06

69.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.09 $8.09

$6.59 $6.59

22.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.03 $1.03

$1.13 $1.13

-8.85%

White Bread (500g)

$3.95 $3.95

$3.17 $3.17

24.61%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.42 $5.42

$5.06 $5.06

7.11%

Eggs

$4.50 $4.50

$4.56 $4.56

-1.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.53 $14.53

$10.27 $10.27

41.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.89 $14.89

$11.09 $11.09

34.27%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.98 $18.98

$14.89 $14.89

27.47%

Apples (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$4.90 $4.90

10.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 $1.77

$1.39 $1.39

27.34%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.35 $4.35

$4.79 $4.79

-9.19%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.53 $4.53

$5.31 $5.31

-14.69%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.58 $2.58

-1.94%

Onion (1kg)

$2.81 $2.81

$3.00 $3.00

-6.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.51 $2.51

$1.78 $1.78

41.01%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.67 $2.67

$2.92 $2.92

-8.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.88 $14.88

$8.08 $8.08

84.16%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.22 $15.22

$16.95 $16.95

-10.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$2.03 $2.03

21.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.53 $3.53

$3.62 $3.62

-2.49%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.56 $2.56

$1.23 $1.23

108.13%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.3 $74.3

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.19 $3.19

$2.98 $2.98

7.05%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.41 $1.41

$1.02 $1.02

38.24%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.49 $25.49

$35.63 $35.63

-28.46%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$0.80 $0.80

30.00%

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

$32.2K $32.2K

$35.0K $35.0K

-8.07%

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

$26.8K $26.8K

$28.1K $28.1K

-4.79%

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

$184 $184

$236 $236

-22.27%

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

$63.1 $63.1

$52.1 $52.1

21.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.4 $66.4

$68.4 $68.4

-2.90%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.9 $75.9

$61.7 $61.7

23.01%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.06 $13.06

$22.32 $22.32

-41.49%

Cinema Ticket

$15.25 $15.25

$11.79 $11.79

29.35%

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

$2,090 $2,090

$1,537 $1,537

36.04%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$10.3K $10.3K

281.98%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.2 $64.2

$52.4 $52.4

22.52%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.0 $51.0

$41.51 $41.51

22.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.2 $97.2

$76.0 $76.0

27.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$149 $149

$113 $113

31.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,341 $2,341

$1,194 $1,194

96.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,572 $1,572

$1,064 $1,064

47.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,741 $4,741

$1,731 $1,731

173.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,819 $2,819

$1,906 $1,906

47.94%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,900 $3,900

$2,214 $2,214

76.16%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,638 $2,638

$2,039 $2,039

29.38%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,769 $4,769

$3,344 $3,344

42.62%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.57

0.46%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: April 25, 2026

Last update for Lafayette, LA: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,341 in Chicago, IL versus $1,194 in Lafayette, LA. 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 43% 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 $102 in Chicago, IL versus $100 in Lafayette, LA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $447 vs $398 – making Lafayette, LA the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Lafayette, LA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,009 in Chicago, IL, $2,349 in Lafayette, LA – roughly 28% apart. Chicago, IL costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,513 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,524 in Lafayette, LA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $102 in Chicago, IL and $100 in Lafayette, LA. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 12% 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 $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Lafayette, LA, where all-in costs run around $2,349, than in Chicago, IL at $3,009. In Lafayette, LA 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 $2,349 in Lafayette, LA to $3,009 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Lafayette, LA. 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.