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 $3,106 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,372 in Melbourne, AR, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,599 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,470 in Melbourne, AR, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,092 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,569 in Melbourne, AR, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 31% more than Melbourne, AR, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chicago, IL and Melbourne, AR sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 126%, Melbourne, AR by 73%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.86 $19.86

$6.64 $6.64

199.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.3 $88.3

$77.6 $77.6

13.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.23 $13.23

$9.24 $9.24

43.18%

Cappuccino

$5.86 $5.86

$5.76 $5.76

1.74%

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

$2.61 $2.61

$1.88 $1.88

38.83%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 $2.32

$1.62 $1.62

43.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.03 $7.03

$6.16 $6.16

14.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.25 $9.25

$7.11 $7.11

30.10%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$0.95 $0.95

41.05%

White Bread (500g)

$4.19 $4.19

$4.01 $4.01

4.49%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.50 $5.50

$5.94 $5.94

-7.41%

Eggs

$4.71 $4.71

$5.19 $5.19

-9.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.72 $14.72

$8.18 $8.18

79.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.53 $14.53

$8.36 $8.36

73.80%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.69 $19.69

$13.61 $13.61

44.67%

Apples (1kg)

$5.64 $5.64

$4.39 $4.39

28.47%

Banana (1kg)

$1.97 $1.97

$1.48 $1.48

33.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.04 $4.04

$2.84 $2.84

42.25%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.07 $5.07

$4.79 $4.79

5.85%

Potato (1kg)

$2.94 $2.94

$2.00 $2.00

47.00%

Onion (1kg)

$2.92 $2.92

$2.48 $2.48

17.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.28 $2.28

$1.47 $1.47

55.10%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.12 $3.12

$1.95 $1.95

60.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$16.19 $16.19

$8.73 $8.73

85.45%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.17 $15.17

$18.83 $18.83

-19.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.67 $2.67

$2.65 $2.65

0.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.48 $3.48

$4.59 $4.59

-24.18%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.54 $2.54

$1.99 $1.99

27.64%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$76.0 $76.0

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.16 $3.16

$3.29 $3.29

-3.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.37 $1.37

$1.89 $1.89

-27.51%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.66 $22.66

$28.44 $28.44

-20.32%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 $1.20

$0.94 $0.94

27.66%

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

$37.0K $37.0K

$36.3K $36.3K

2.07%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$26.1K $26.1K

-0.39%

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

$190 $190

$176 $176

7.72%

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

$68.5 $68.5

$56.1 $56.1

22.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.1 $61.1

$61.3 $61.3

-0.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.8 $63.8

$41.55 $41.55

53.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.80 $27.80

Cinema Ticket

$18.28 $18.28

$9.96 $9.96

83.53%

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

$1,525 $1,525

$1,072 $1,072

42.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$32.0K $32.0K

$20.4K $20.4K

56.76%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.0 $64.0

$59.6 $59.6

7.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.4 $54.4

$50.3 $50.3

8.09%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 $101

$111 $111

-9.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$153 $153

$128 $128

19.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,421 $2,421

$1,559 $1,559

55.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,690 $1,690

$1,300 $1,300

30.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,584 $4,584

$2,701 $2,701

69.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,782 $2,782

$2,293 $2,293

21.34%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,170 $4,170

$2,407 $2,407

73.22%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,739 $2,739

$2,247 $2,247

21.87%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,777 $4,777

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.38

6.11

4.42%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: August 29, 2026

Last update for Melbourne, AR: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,421 in Chicago, IL versus $1,559 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 $88.0 in Chicago, IL versus $78.0 in Melbourne, AR. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $465 vs $368 – 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: $3,106 in Chicago, IL, $2,372 in Melbourne, AR – roughly 31% apart. Chicago, IL costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,659 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,558 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 $88.0 in Chicago, IL and $78.0 in Melbourne, AR. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the 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 $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Melbourne, AR, where all-in costs run around $2,372, than in Chicago, IL at $3,106. In Melbourne, 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 $2,372 in Melbourne, AR to $3,106 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.