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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,077 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,605 in Melbourne, AR, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,628 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,830 in Melbourne, AR, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,179 per month in Chicago, IL vs $5,055 in Melbourne, AR, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 18% more than Melbourne, AR, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Chicago, IL and Melbourne, AR sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 130%, Melbourne, AR by 94%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.91 $20.91

$22.12 $22.12

-5.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.1 $98.1

$84.3 $84.3

16.47%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.86 $11.86

$11.16 $11.16

6.27%

Cappuccino

$5.60 $5.60

$5.57 $5.57

0.54%

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

$3.07 $3.07

$2.71 $2.71

13.28%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.19 $2.19

12.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.14 $7.14

$5.83 $5.83

22.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.08 $8.08

$6.63 $6.63

21.87%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$1.11 $1.11

-5.41%

White Bread (500g)

$4.11 $4.11

$3.10 $3.10

32.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.61 $5.61

$6.66 $6.66

-15.77%

Eggs

$4.51 $4.51

$4.88 $4.88

-7.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.27 $14.27

$18.19 $18.19

-21.55%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.89 $14.89

$16.38 $16.38

-9.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.19 $19.19

$16.29 $16.29

17.80%

Apples (1kg)

$5.14 $5.14

$4.57 $4.57

12.47%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 $1.77

$1.35 $1.35

31.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.39 $4.39

$3.48 $3.48

26.15%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.56 $4.56

$2.68 $2.68

70.15%

Potato (1kg)

$2.54 $2.54

$2.40 $2.40

5.83%

Onion (1kg)

$2.75 $2.75

$2.63 $2.63

4.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.88 $1.88

28.72%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$2.76 $2.76

-5.07%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.92 $14.92

$9.86 $9.86

51.32%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.80 $14.80

$19.27 $19.27

-23.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$1.87 $1.87

31.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 $3.73

$3.16 $3.16

18.04%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.48 $2.48

$2.04 $2.04

21.57%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.4 $75.4

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.18 $3.18

$3.41 $3.41

-6.74%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.39 $1.39

2.16%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.94 $24.94

$29.72 $29.72

-16.08%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.06 $1.06

$0.76 $0.76

39.47%

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

$31.9K $31.9K

$31.3K $31.3K

2.04%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$33.4K $33.4K

-22.17%

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

$185 $185

$196 $196

-5.58%

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

$61.7 $61.7

$47.58 $47.58

29.76%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.9 $66.9

$66.7 $66.7

0.41%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.2 $75.2

$42.55 $42.55

76.66%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.08 $13.08

Cinema Ticket

$14.71 $14.71

$14.80 $14.80

-0.61%

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

$2,020 $2,020

$1,282 $1,282

57.55%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.4K $39.4K

$23.3K $23.3K

68.86%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.6 $64.6

$46.98 $46.98

37.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.5 $52.5

$38.50 $38.50

36.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.8 $97.8

$67.9 $67.9

44.11%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$148 $148

$68.7 $68.7

114.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,313 $2,313

$1,611 $1,611

43.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,590 $1,590

$1,340 $1,340

18.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,608 $4,608

$2,669 $2,669

72.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,779 $2,779

$2,203 $2,203

26.15%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,922 $3,922

$2,288 $2,288

71.38%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,613 $2,613

$2,412 $2,412

8.31%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,217 $5,217

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: May 30, 2026

Last update for Melbourne, AR: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,313 in Chicago, IL versus $1,611 in Melbourne, AR. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $98.0 in Chicago, IL versus $84.0 in Melbourne, AR. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $447 vs $439 – making Melbourne, 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 Melbourne, AR: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,077 in Chicago, IL, $2,605 in Melbourne, AR – roughly 18% apart. Chicago, IL costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,616 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,908 in Melbourne, AR. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $98.0 in Chicago, IL and $84.0 in Melbourne, AR. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 2% 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.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,077 in Chicago, IL and $2,605 in Melbourne, AR. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,605 in Melbourne, AR to $3,077 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Melbourne, 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.