Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Merrillville, IN Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Merrillville, IN

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 41.2% more expensive than Merrillville, IN without rent, and 16.1% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 28.2% more expensive than Merrillville, IN without rent, and 26.2% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$18.86 $18.86

10.39%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$65.8 $65.8

52.56%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$9.91 $9.91

20.79%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$5.21 $5.21

6.72%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$3.1 $3.1

0.32%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.21 $2.21

9.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$5.05 $5.05

35.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$7.07 $7.07

19.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$0.8 $0.8

30.00%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$3.31 $3.31

25.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$4.62 $4.62

19.48%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$4.3 $4.3

8.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$9.74 $9.74

47.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$12.62 $12.62

17.91%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$15.48 $15.48

24.94%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$5.86 $5.86

-11.77%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.13 $1.13

51.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$4.7 $4.7

-6.17%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$4.78 $4.78

-5.65%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.1 $2.1

20.48%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.19 $2.19

25.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.95 $1.95

24.62%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$2.69 $2.69

0.37%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$10.47 $10.47

45.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$11.88 $11.88

38.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.87 $1.87

25.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$3.42 $3.42

8.19%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.03 $2.03

24.63%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$2.75 $2.75

21.45%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$2.15 $2.15

-33.95%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$20.99 $20.99

21.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.85 $0.85

27.06%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$29.5K $29.5K

9.73%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$25.7K $25.7K

2.12%

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

$188 $188

$187 $187

0.91%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$48.29 $48.29

31.91%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$63.8 $63.8

2.21%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$43.81 $43.81

75.12%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$15.01 $15.01

-0.53%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,795 $1,795

14.90%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$24.5K $24.5K

60.22%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$43.48 $43.48

47.91%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$45.32 $45.32

15.60%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$80.7 $80.7

17.98%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$106 $106

36.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$1,619 $1,619

46.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,346 $1,346

17.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$2,646 $2,646

80.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$2,219 $2,219

26.82%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$2,730 $2,730

31.44%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$2,701 $2,701

-7.79%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.55

0.76%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Merrillville, IN: October 29, 2025

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