Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Little Rock, AR Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Little Rock, AR

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,066 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,304 in Little Rock, AR, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,583 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,183 in Little Rock, AR, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,100 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,062 in Little Rock, AR, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 33% more than Little Rock, AR, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chicago, IL and Little Rock, AR sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 128%, Little Rock, AR by 71%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.53 $20.53

$17.84 $17.84

15.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$102 $102

$59.3 $59.3

71.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.03 $12.03

$11.53 $11.53

4.34%

Cappuccino

$5.62 $5.62

$4.78 $4.78

17.57%

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

$3.07 $3.07

$2.83 $2.83

8.48%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.36 $2.36

2.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.98 $6.98

$4.87 $4.87

43.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.10 $8.10

$5.83 $5.83

38.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$1.02 $1.02

5.88%

White Bread (500g)

$3.95 $3.95

$3.41 $3.41

15.84%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$2.95 $2.95

87.12%

Eggs

$4.55 $4.55

$3.05 $3.05

49.18%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.58 $14.58

$9.46 $9.46

54.12%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.91 $14.91

$11.64 $11.64

28.09%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.83 $18.83

$16.56 $16.56

13.71%

Apples (1kg)

$5.34 $5.34

$4.66 $4.66

14.59%

Banana (1kg)

$1.76 $1.76

$1.40 $1.40

25.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.39 $4.39

$2.81 $2.81

56.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.37 $4.37

$3.93 $3.93

11.20%

Potato (1kg)

$2.55 $2.55

$4.02 $4.02

-36.57%

Onion (1kg)

$2.78 $2.78

$2.52 $2.52

10.32%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.46 $2.46

$1.97 $1.97

24.87%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.66 $2.66

$1.92 $1.92

38.54%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.74 $14.74

$8.30 $8.30

77.59%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.17 $15.17

$12.21 $12.21

24.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.45 $2.45

$1.65 $1.65

48.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.68 $3.68

$2.26 $2.26

62.83%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.52 $2.52

$1.37 $1.37

83.94%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.5 $74.5

$35.79 $35.79

108.24%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.29 $3.29

$2.47 $2.47

33.20%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.43 $1.43

$1.46 $1.46

-2.05%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.86 $24.86

$23.99 $23.99

3.63%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.77 $0.77

41.56%

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

$31.3K $31.3K

$24.2K $24.2K

29.62%

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

$26.8K $26.8K

$25.5K $25.5K

5.05%

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

$187 $187

$281 $281

-33.48%

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

$62.4 $62.4

$57.7 $57.7

8.17%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.1 $67.1

$71.3 $71.3

-5.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.2 $75.2

$53.0 $53.0

41.80%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.17 $13.17

$12.24 $12.24

7.60%

Cinema Ticket

$15.21 $15.21

$12.29 $12.29

23.76%

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

$2,039 $2,039

$1,035 $1,035

96.93%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.3K $39.3K

$18.7K $18.7K

110.08%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.0 $64.0

$53.9 $53.9

18.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.6 $50.6

$40.73 $40.73

24.21%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.4 $95.4

$104 $104

-7.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$144 $144

$117 $117

22.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,355 $2,355

$1,277 $1,277

84.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,613 $1,613

$954 $954

69.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,728 $4,728

$1,805 $1,805

161.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,754 $2,754

$1,276 $1,276

115.76%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,803 $3,803

$1,955 $1,955

94.53%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,580 $2,580

$1,381 $1,381

86.80%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,738 $4,738

$3,828 $3,828

23.76%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.58

0.30%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: April 14, 2026

Last update for Little Rock, AR: April 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,355 in Chicago, IL versus $1,277 in Little Rock, AR. 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 24% higher in Chicago, IL, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $102 in Chicago, IL versus $59 in Little Rock, AR. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $447 vs $352 – making Little Rock, AR the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Little Rock, AR: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,066 in Chicago, IL, $2,304 in Little Rock, AR – roughly 33% apart. Chicago, IL costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,599 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,456 in Little Rock, AR. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Little Rock, AR, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 27% more in Chicago, IL, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $102 in Chicago, IL and $59.0 in Little Rock, AR. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Little Rock, AR, where all-in costs run around $2,304, than in Chicago, IL at $3,066. In Little Rock, AR 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 $2,304 in Little Rock, AR to $3,066 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Little Rock, AR. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chicago, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.