Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Minneapolis, MN Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Minneapolis, MN

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,068 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,602 in Minneapolis, MN, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,648 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,908 in Minneapolis, MN, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,229 per month in Chicago, IL vs $5,214 in Minneapolis, MN, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 18% more than Minneapolis, MN, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Chicago, IL and Minneapolis, MN sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 130%, Minneapolis, MN by 95%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.17 $20.17

$17.94 $17.94

12.43%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.5 $99.5

$88.7 $88.7

12.14%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.23 $12.23

$12.08 $12.08

1.24%

Cappuccino

$5.60 $5.60

$5.99 $5.99

-6.51%

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

$3.12 $3.12

$3.01 $3.01

3.65%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.30 $2.30

5.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.93 $6.93

$6.39 $6.39

8.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.20 $8.20

$7.10 $7.10

15.49%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.99 $0.99

9.09%

White Bread (500g)

$3.97 $3.97

$3.55 $3.55

11.83%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.58 $5.58

$5.37 $5.37

3.91%

Eggs

$4.47 $4.47

$4.26 $4.26

4.93%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.50 $14.50

$11.26 $11.26

28.77%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.08 $15.08

$14.52 $14.52

3.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$17.93 $17.93

7.86%

Apples (1kg)

$5.37 $5.37

$6.40 $6.40

-16.09%

Banana (1kg)

$1.76 $1.76

$1.77 $1.77

-0.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.32 $4.32

$7.66 $7.66

-43.60%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$5.66 $5.66

-22.08%

Potato (1kg)

$2.54 $2.54

$3.08 $3.08

-17.53%

Onion (1kg)

$2.70 $2.70

$3.75 $3.75

-28.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.49 $2.49

$2.45 $2.45

1.63%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.60 $2.60

$2.29 $2.29

13.54%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.80 $14.80

$11.84 $11.84

25.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.18 $15.18

$16.06 $16.06

-5.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.23 $2.23

10.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.60 $3.60

$4.87 $4.87

-26.08%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.54 $2.54

$2.06 $2.06

23.30%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$76.3 $76.3

$86.4 $86.4

-11.72%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.30 $3.30

$4.74 $4.74

-30.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.38 $1.38

$1.76 $1.76

-21.59%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.36 $25.36

$24.38 $24.38

4.02%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.91 $0.91

19.78%

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

$31.6K $31.6K

$29.7K $29.7K

6.46%

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

$26.6K $26.6K

$25.9K $25.9K

2.55%

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

$186 $186

$165 $165

12.89%

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

$62.9 $62.9

$51.9 $51.9

21.09%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.2 $66.2

$68.4 $68.4

-3.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$77.6 $77.6

$55.5 $55.5

39.93%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.16 $13.16

$18.30 $18.30

-28.09%

Cinema Ticket

$14.74 $14.74

$14.96 $14.96

-1.47%

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

$2,039 $2,039

$1,613 $1,613

26.41%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.9K $39.9K

$26.1K $26.1K

52.70%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.9 $63.9

$62.6 $62.6

1.93%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.2 $51.2

$43.94 $43.94

16.45%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$89.7 $89.7

6.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$144 $144

$119 $119

21.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,305 $2,305

$1,675 $1,675

37.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,575 $1,575

$1,189 $1,189

32.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,688 $4,688

$2,719 $2,719

72.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,737 $2,737

$2,084 $2,084

31.33%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,063 $4,063

$3,450 $3,450

17.77%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,696 $2,696

$2,215 $2,215

21.74%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,019 $5,019

$4,172 $4,172

20.30%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.51

1.38%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: July 11, 2026

Last update for Minneapolis, MN: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,305 in Chicago, IL versus $1,675 in Minneapolis, MN. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 20% higher in Chicago, IL, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $99.0 in Chicago, IL versus $89.0 in Minneapolis, MN. Groceries tell a different story – $448 in Chicago, IL vs $453 in Minneapolis, MN – so Chicago, IL wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Minneapolis, MN: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,068 in Chicago, IL, $2,602 in Minneapolis, MN – roughly 18% apart. Chicago, IL costs more across the board, with Sport & Entertainment showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,602 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,903 in Minneapolis, MN. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Interestingly, groceries are about 1% cheaper in Chicago, IL – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $99.0 in Chicago, IL and $89.0 in Minneapolis, MN. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,068 in Chicago, IL and $2,602 in Minneapolis, MN. 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 $2,602 in Minneapolis, MN to $3,068 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Minneapolis, MN. 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.