Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Lawrence, KS Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Lawrence, KS

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 46.5% more expensive than Lawrence, KS without rent, and 42% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 30.5% more expensive than Lawrence, KS without rent, and 34.8% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$15.12 $15.12

37.70%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$74.3 $74.3

35.08%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$9.84 $9.84

21.65%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$5.14 $5.14

8.17%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.99 $2.99

4.01%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.94 $1.94

24.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$5.15 $5.15

33.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$7.01 $7.01

20.54%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$0.81 $0.81

28.40%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$2.6 $2.6

59.62%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$4.43 $4.43

24.60%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$3.43 $3.43

35.57%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$11.45 $11.45

25.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$10.74 $10.74

38.55%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$15.67 $15.67

23.42%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$6.2 $6.2

-16.61%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$2.22 $2.22

-22.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$4.81 $4.81

-8.32%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$3.83 $3.83

17.75%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.86 $1.86

36.02%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.85 $2.85

-3.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.47 $1.47

65.31%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$2.49 $2.49

8.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$7.99 $7.99

90.11%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$14.19 $14.19

15.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.79 $1.79

31.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$1.57 $1.57

135.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$0.51 $0.51

396.08%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

$24.94 $24.94

197.23%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$3.01 $3.01

10.96%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.41 $1.41

0.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$25.1 $25.1

1.27%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.82 $0.82

31.71%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$35.6K $35.6K

-8.95%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

0.09%

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

$188 $188

$329 $329

-42.85%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$53.5 $53.5

18.98%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$64.4 $64.4

1.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$44.78 $44.78

71.33%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

$11.87 $11.87

9.77%

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$11.99 $11.99

24.52%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$930 $930

121.88%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$24.4K $24.4K

60.33%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$53.7 $53.7

19.82%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$34.7 $34.7

50.98%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$96.1 $96.1

-0.87%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$91 $91

59.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$943 $943

152.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$785 $785

101.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$1,566 $1,566

204.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$1,771 $1,771

58.96%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$2,461 $2,461

45.81%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$2,102 $2,102

18.46%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$3,886 $3,886

35.75%

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 Lawrence, KS: October 28, 2025

Similar cities

Amsterdam

🇳🇱 Netherlands

Dallas, TX

🇺🇸 United States

Denver, CO

🇺🇸 United States

Miami, FL

🇺🇸 United States

San Diego, CA

🇺🇸 United States

Philadelphia, PA

🇺🇸 United States

Atlanta, GA

🇺🇸 United States

Minneapolis, MN

🇺🇸 United States