Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Melbourne, AR Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Melbourne, AR

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 22.6% more expensive than Melbourne, AR without rent, and 13.3% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 5.3% more expensive than Melbourne, AR without rent, and 21.6% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$21.59 $21.59

-3.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$83.6 $83.6

20.00%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$11.09 $11.09

7.94%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$5.66 $5.66

-1.77%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.71 $2.71

14.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.12 $2.12

14.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$5.97 $5.97

14.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$6.52 $6.52

29.60%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.13 $1.13

-7.96%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$3.11 $3.11

33.44%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$6.46 $6.46

-14.55%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$4.64 $4.64

0.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$18.22 $18.22

-21.35%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$16.04 $16.04

-7.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$16.14 $16.14

19.83%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$4.59 $4.59

12.64%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.33 $1.33

28.57%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$3.52 $3.52

25.28%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$2.65 $2.65

70.19%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.3 $2.3

10.00%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.54 $2.54

7.87%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.88 $1.88

29.26%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$2.8 $2.8

-3.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$9.96 $9.96

52.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$26.41 $26.41

-37.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.86 $1.86

26.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$3.03 $3.03

22.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.97 $1.97

28.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$3.45 $3.45

-3.19%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.41 $1.41

0.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$28.68 $28.68

-11.37%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.75 $0.75

44.00%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$31.2K $31.2K

3.76%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$34.1K $34.1K

-23.11%

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

$188 $188

$193 $193

-2.37%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$48.3 $48.3

31.88%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$67.5 $67.5

-3.42%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$43.49 $43.49

76.41%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$15.06 $15.06

-0.86%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,284 $1,284

60.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$23.9K $23.9K

63.93%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$46.85 $46.85

37.27%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$38.67 $38.67

35.48%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$67.7 $67.7

40.64%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$69.7 $69.7

107.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$1,620 $1,620

46.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,332 $1,332

18.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$2,600 $2,600

83.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$2,205 $2,205

27.68%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$2,577 $2,577

39.22%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$2,550 $2,550

-2.34%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.56

0.61%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Melbourne, AR: October 29, 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