Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Lehi, UT

For one person, living is cheaper in Lehi, UT: $2,235 a month against $3,037 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $9,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

147

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
Learn more

Chicago, IL Living Index
108

Cost of Living Index in Lehi, UT
Learn more

Lehi, UT Living Index

Jump to prices

Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,037

/mo nomad

Lehi, UT

🇺🇸 United States

$2,235

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chicago, IL and in Lehi, UT

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 Lehi, UT actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,037 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,235 in Lehi, UT, rent included.

Chicago, IL $3,037
Lehi, UT $2,235

A couple spends around $4,518 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,616 in Lehi, UT, rent included.

Chicago, IL $4,518
Lehi, UT $3,616

A family of three spends $5,999 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,996 in Lehi, UT, rent included.

Chicago, IL $5,999
Lehi, UT $4,996

Chicago, IL costs about 36% more than Lehi, UT, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Chicago, IL and Lehi, UT sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 123%, Lehi, UT by 64%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.71 $20.71

$15.02 $15.02

37.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$89.2 $89.2

$59.4 $59.4

50.29%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.19 $13.19

$9.86 $9.86

33.77%

Cappuccino

$5.66 $5.66

$4.49 $4.49

26.06%

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

$2.64 $2.64

$1.81 $1.81

45.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 $2.28

$1.65 $1.65

38.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.87 $6.87

$3.91 $3.91

75.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.84 $8.84

$4.62 $4.62

91.34%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.25 $1.25

$0.86 $0.86

45.35%

White Bread (500g)

$3.72 $3.72

$3.76 $3.76

-1.06%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$2.83 $2.83

90.46%

Eggs

$4.74 $4.74

$4.06 $4.06

16.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.84 $13.84

$12.02 $12.02

15.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.40 $14.40

$11.37 $11.37

26.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.38 $18.38

$16.94 $16.94

8.50%

Apples (1kg)

$5.22 $5.22

$4.06 $4.06

28.57%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.37 $1.37

44.53%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.06 $4.06

$3.73 $3.73

8.85%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.97 $4.97

$3.79 $3.79

31.13%

Potato (1kg)

$2.67 $2.67

$1.53 $1.53

74.51%

Onion (1kg)

$2.66 $2.66

$2.36 $2.36

12.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.24 $2.24

$1.86 $1.86

20.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.13 $3.13

$1.88 $1.88

66.49%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.82 $13.82

$10.22 $10.22

35.23%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.88 $14.88

$15.02 $15.02

-0.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.54 $2.54

$2.65 $2.65

-4.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.51 $3.51

$3.43 $3.43

2.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.52 $2.52

-3.57%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$73.5 $73.5

$168 $168

-56.12%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.18 $3.18

$2.47 $2.47

28.74%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.39 $1.39

$2.26 $2.26

-38.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.03 $25.03

$25.06 $25.06

-0.12%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 $1.20

$1.01 $1.01

18.81%

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

$35.0K $35.0K

$34.2K $34.2K

2.42%

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

$26.7K $26.7K

$26.3K $26.3K

1.51%

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

$194 $194

$161 $161

20.61%

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

$69.5 $69.5

$53.2 $53.2

30.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.6 $61.6

$82.1 $82.1

-24.88%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.90 $47.90

$44.71 $44.71

7.13%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.34 $27.34

$30.05 $30.05

-9.02%

Cinema Ticket

$17.81 $17.81

$11.11 $11.11

60.31%

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

$1,794 $1,794

$1,111 $1,111

61.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.9K $31.9K

$20.6K $20.6K

55.07%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.0 $67.0

$72.0 $72.0

-6.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.1 $52.1

$40.29 $40.29

29.41%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 $102

$112 $112

-9.26%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$144 $144

$109 $109

32.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,526 $2,526

$1,292 $1,292

95.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,578 $1,578

$915 $915

72.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,738 $4,738

$2,359 $2,359

100.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,693 $2,693

$2,125 $2,125

26.74%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,190 $4,190

$2,849 $2,849

47.06%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,768 $2,768

$2,810 $2,810

-1.49%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,931 $4,931

$5,142 $5,142

-4.11%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.81

6.46

5.42%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 25, 2026

Last update for Lehi, UT: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52%

Lehi, UT

$915 41% 42% $663

Groceries & Markets

Chicago, IL

$447 14.7%

Lehi, UT

$369 16.5% 17.4% $78

Eating Out

Chicago, IL

$345 11.4%

Lehi, UT

$246 11% 28.6% $99

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chicago, IL

$326 10.7%

Lehi, UT

$296 13.3% 8.9% $29

Clothing & Footwear

Chicago, IL

$164 5.4%

Lehi, UT

$150 6.7% 8.6% $14

Getting Around

Chicago, IL

$93 3.1%

Lehi, UT

$191 8.6% 105% $98

Sport & Entertainment

Chicago, IL

$84 2.8%

Lehi, UT

$67 3% 19.9% $17

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,526 in Chicago, IL versus $1,292 in Lehi, UT. 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 4% higher in Lehi, UT, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89 in Chicago, IL versus $59 in Lehi, UT. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $447 vs $369 – making Lehi, UT the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 Lehi, UT

🕒 Local time

15:16 3:16 PM

14:16 2:16 PM

1 h behind Chicago, IL

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

2,746,388

86,284

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.892 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Chicago, IL Lehi, UT 2,030 km ≈ 3 h nonstop flight

From you

Chicago, IL
Lehi, UT

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 Lehi, UT: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,037 in Chicago, IL, $2,235 in Lehi, UT – Lehi, UT comes out roughly 26% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in eating out.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,555 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,353 in Lehi, UT. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Lehi, UT, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,292 there versus $2,526 in Chicago, IL.

Groceries cost about 21% more in Chicago, IL, though the gap depends on what you buy.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89 in Chicago, IL and $59 in Lehi, UT. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Lehi, UT, where all-in costs run around $2,235, than in Chicago, IL at $3,037. In Lehi, UT 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 $2,235 in Lehi, UT to $3,037 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.