Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Lake Norden, SD

For one person, living is cheaper in Lake Norden, SD: $2,536 a month against $3,072 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $6,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

146

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
Learn more

Chicago, IL Living Index
125

Cost of Living Index in Lake Norden, SD
Learn more

Lake Norden, SD Living Index

Jump to prices

Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,072

/mo nomad

Lake Norden, SD

🇺🇸 United States

$2,536

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chicago, IL and in Lake Norden, SD

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 Lake Norden, SD actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,072 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,536 in Lake Norden, SD, rent included.

Chicago, IL $3,072
Lake Norden, SD $2,536

A couple spends around $4,545 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,630 in Lake Norden, SD, rent included.

Chicago, IL $4,545
Lake Norden, SD $3,630

A family of three spends $6,019 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,724 in Lake Norden, SD, rent included.

Chicago, IL $6,019
Lake Norden, SD $4,724

Chicago, IL costs about 21% more than Lake Norden, SD, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Chicago, IL and Lake Norden, SD sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 127%, Lake Norden, SD by 88%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.39 $20.39

$12.09 $12.09

68.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.6 $88.6

$75.2 $75.2

17.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.85 $12.85

$10.10 $10.10

27.23%

Cappuccino

$5.78 $5.78

$4.20 $4.20

37.62%

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

$2.74 $2.74

$2.05 $2.05

33.66%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.26 $2.26

$1.87 $1.87

20.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.88 $6.88

$4.12 $4.12

66.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.24 $9.24

$6.35 $6.35

45.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.26 $1.26

$0.85 $0.85

48.24%

White Bread (500g)

$3.55 $3.55

$2.84 $2.84

25.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.38 $5.38

$4.42 $4.42

21.72%

Eggs

$4.55 $4.55

$2.94 $2.94

54.76%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.65 $13.65

$12.50 $12.50

9.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.07 $14.07

$9.77 $9.77

44.01%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.06 $18.06

$16.18 $16.18

11.62%

Apples (1kg)

$5.16 $5.16

$4.34 $4.34

18.89%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.56 $1.56

26.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.88 $3.88

$3.50 $3.50

10.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.83 $4.83

$3.75 $3.75

28.80%

Potato (1kg)

$2.81 $2.81

$2.08 $2.08

35.10%

Onion (1kg)

$2.67 $2.67

$3.23 $3.23

-17.34%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.07 $2.07

$1.98 $1.98

4.55%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.03 $3.03

$2.13 $2.13

42.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.90 $13.90

$10.01 $10.01

38.86%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.05 $15.05

$10.78 $10.78

39.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.63 $2.63

$2.15 $2.15

22.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.45 $3.45

$2.56 $2.56

34.77%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.23 $2.23

8.97%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.3 $75.3

$60.6 $60.6

24.26%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.17 $3.17

$3.76 $3.76

-15.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.70 $1.70

$1.72 $1.72

-1.16%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.90 $24.90

$34.70 $34.70

-28.24%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 $1.28

$1.06 $1.06

20.75%

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

$35.8K $35.8K

$24.6K $24.6K

45.45%

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

$26.8K $26.8K

$25.2K $25.2K

6.37%

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

$192 $192

$372 $372

-48.44%

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

$69.6 $69.6

$46.76 $46.76

48.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.2 $62.2

$55.3 $55.3

12.54%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.79 $47.79

$41.39 $41.39

15.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.10 $27.10

Cinema Ticket

$17.83 $17.83

$12.71 $12.71

40.28%

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

$1,815 $1,815

$1,031 $1,031

76.05%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$40.6K $40.6K

$9,353 $9,353

334.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.2 $66.2

$33.25 $33.25

99.04%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.4 $51.4

$29.97 $29.97

71.47%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 $103

$118 $118

-12.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$134 $134

6.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,531 $2,531

$1,732 $1,732

46.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,621 $1,621

$1,196 $1,196

35.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,828 $4,828

$2,816 $2,816

71.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,734 $2,734

$1,960 $1,960

39.49%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,163 $4,163

$2,523 $2,523

65.02%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,723 $2,723

$2,086 $2,086

30.56%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,924 $4,924

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.78

6.87

-1.31%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: November 3, 2026

Last update for Lake Norden, SD: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52.8%

Lake Norden, SD

$1.2K 47.2% 26.2% $425

Groceries & Markets

Chicago, IL

$439 14.3%

Lake Norden, SD

$349 13.8% 20.6% $90

Eating Out

Chicago, IL

$344 11.2%

Lake Norden, SD

$226 8.9% 34.2% $118

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chicago, IL

$324 10.5%

Lake Norden, SD

$475 18.7% 46.5% $151

Clothing & Footwear

Chicago, IL

$164 5.3%

Lake Norden, SD

$142 5.6% 13.3% $22

Getting Around

Chicago, IL

$97 3.2%

Lake Norden, SD

$82 3.2% 15.3% $15

Sport & Entertainment

Chicago, IL

$83 2.7%

Lake Norden, SD

$67 2.6% 19.9% $17

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,531 in Chicago, IL versus $1,732 in Lake Norden, SD. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89 in Chicago, IL versus $75 in Lake Norden, SD. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $439 vs $349 – making Lake Norden, SD the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 Lake Norden, SD

🕒 Local time

12:55 12:55 PM

Same time as Chicago, IL

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

2,746,388

600

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.893 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Chicago, IL Lake Norden, SD 830 km ≈ 1 h 30 min nonstop flight

From you

Chicago, IL
Lake Norden, SD

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Lake Norden, SD: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,072 in Chicago, IL, $2,536 in Lake Norden, SD – Lake Norden, SD comes out roughly 17% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in eating out.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,608 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,805 in Lake Norden, SD. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Lake Norden, SD, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,732 there versus $2,531 in Chicago, IL.

Groceries cost about 26% more in Chicago, IL, though the gap depends on what you buy.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89 in Chicago, IL and $75 in Lake Norden, SD. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,072 in Chicago, IL and $2,536 in Lake Norden, SD. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Lake Norden, SD – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

For expats, Lake Norden, SD is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and overall it costs about 17% less, which matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.