Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Lake Charles, LA Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Lake Charles, LA

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 29.7% more expensive than Lake Charles, LA without rent, and 12.5% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 21.4% more expensive than Lake Charles, LA without rent, and 19.1% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$25.93 $25.93

-19.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$91.7 $91.7

9.37%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$9.84 $9.84

21.65%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$4.34 $4.34

28.11%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$1.69 $1.69

84.02%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.15 $2.15

12.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$5.89 $5.89

16.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$8.14 $8.14

3.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.33 $1.33

-21.80%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$3.99 $3.99

4.01%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$6.11 $6.11

-9.66%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$4.52 $4.52

2.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$14.83 $14.83

-3.37%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$11.08 $11.08

34.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$14.75 $14.75

31.12%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$4.47 $4.47

15.66%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.28 $1.28

33.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$1.94 $1.94

127.32%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$5.24 $5.24

-13.93%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$3.98 $3.98

-36.43%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.23 $2.23

22.87%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.18 $2.18

11.47%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$3.08 $3.08

-12.34%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$8.27 $8.27

83.68%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$17.3 $17.3

-5.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$2 $2

17.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$3.48 $3.48

6.32%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.94 $1.94

30.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$3.43 $3.43

-2.62%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.45 $1.45

-2.07%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$35.51 $35.51

-28.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.83 $0.83

30.12%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$34.4K $34.4K

-5.79%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$28.3K $28.3K

-7.22%

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

$188 $188

$236 $236

-20.14%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$59 $59

7.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$60.7 $60.7

7.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$42.62 $42.62

80.01%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

$14.06 $14.06

-7.33%

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$11.33 $11.33

31.77%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,559 $1,559

32.30%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$10.1K $10.1K

286.47%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$46.93 $46.93

37.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$41.43 $41.43

26.45%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$75.9 $75.9

25.39%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$98.2 $98.2

47.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$1,621 $1,621

46.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,358 $1,358

16.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$2,637 $2,637

80.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$2,203 $2,203

27.76%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$1,353 $1,353

165.18%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$1,363 $1,363

82.69%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$3,662 $3,662

44.03%

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: October 29, 2025

Last update for Lake Charles, LA: October 28, 2025

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