Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Meridian, MS Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Meridian, MS

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 15.9% more expensive than Meridian, MS without rent, and 10.7% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 9% more expensive than Meridian, MS without rent, and 17.2% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Meridian, MS
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$25.56 $25.56
-18.54%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$123 $123
-18.27%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$12.18 $12.18
-1.72%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$5.58 $5.58
-0.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.03 $2.03
53.20%
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
$6.03 $6.03
13.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$8.03 $8.03
5.23%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Meridian, MS
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$0.97 $0.97
7.22%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$3.92 $3.92
5.87%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$2.07 $2.07
166.67%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$3.86 $3.86
20.47%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$14.93 $14.93
-4.02%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$8.68 $8.68
71.43%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$14.44 $14.44
33.93%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$3.04 $3.04
70.07%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.07 $1.07
59.81%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$2.77 $2.77
59.21%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$4.33 $4.33
4.16%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$1.89 $1.89
33.86%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$3.15 $3.15
-13.02%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.05 $2.05
18.54%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$3.06 $3.06
-11.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$7.19 $7.19
111.27%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$17.28 $17.28
-4.98%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$2.04 $2.04
15.20%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$3.48 $3.48
6.32%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Meridian, MS
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$1.96 $1.96
29.08%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$3.43 $3.43
-2.62%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.45 $1.45
-2.07%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$35.64 $35.64
-28.68%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.76 $0.76
42.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$35.5K $35.5K
-8.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$28.8K $28.8K
-8.82%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Meridian, MS
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$236 $236
-20.32%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$58 $58
9.90%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$70.4 $70.4
-7.39%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Meridian, MS
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$42.72 $42.72
79.59%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$12.95 $12.95
15.29%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Meridian, MS
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$605 $605
241.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$10.4K $10.4K
276.65%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Meridian, MS
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$53.1 $53.1
21.09%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$40.88 $40.88
28.16%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$75.3 $75.3
26.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$113 $113
28.50%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Meridian, MS
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,583 $1,583
50.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,347 $1,347
17.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$2,621 $2,621
81.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$2,214 $2,214
27.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$3,145 $3,145
14.07%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,798 $2,798
-11.00%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Meridian, MS
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$4,204 $4,204
25.47%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.57
0.46%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Meridian, MS: October 28, 2025

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