Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Lexington, KY Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Lexington, KY

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 40.8% more expensive than Lexington, KY without rent, and 34.2% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 19.6% more expensive than Lexington, KY without rent, and 40% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$14.8 $14.8

40.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$70.3 $70.3

42.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$10.02 $10.02

19.46%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$4.99 $4.99

11.42%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.23 $2.23

39.46%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.82 $1.82

32.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$4.81 $4.81

42.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$8.09 $8.09

4.45%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$0.78 $0.78

33.33%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$2.98 $2.98

39.26%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$4.59 $4.59

20.26%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$3.24 $3.24

43.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$12.91 $12.91

11.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$11.37 $11.37

30.87%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$16.31 $16.31

18.58%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$4.68 $4.68

10.47%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.25 $1.25

36.80%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$3.63 $3.63

21.49%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$4.35 $4.35

3.68%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$3.41 $3.41

-25.81%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$3.32 $3.32

-17.47%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.04 $2.04

19.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$1.8 $1.8

50.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$8.16 $8.16

86.15%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$13.07 $13.07

25.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$2.79 $2.79

-15.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$3.17 $3.17

16.72%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$0.98 $0.98

158.16%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

$29.96 $29.96

147.43%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$4.96 $4.96

-32.66%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.67 $1.67

-14.97%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$29.63 $29.63

-14.21%

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

$22.8K $22.8K

41.94%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$25.9K $25.9K

1.40%

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

$188 $188

$205 $205

-8.24%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$71.6 $71.6

-11.08%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$68.3 $68.3

-4.47%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$35.3 $35.3

117.34%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

$29.73 $29.73

-56.17%

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$15.27 $15.27

-2.23%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,170 $1,170

76.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$24.9K $24.9K

57.04%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$58.6 $58.6

9.73%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$35.31 $35.31

48.37%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$101 $101

-5.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$156 $156

-7.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$1,131 $1,131

110.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,022 $1,022

55.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$2,088 $2,088

128.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$1,685 $1,685

67.06%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$2,059 $2,059

74.28%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$1,986 $1,986

25.38%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$3,783 $3,783

39.44%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.67

-1.05%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Lexington, KY: 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