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 $3,077 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,574 in Minneapolis, MN, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,628 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,924 in Minneapolis, MN, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,179 per month in Chicago, IL vs $5,274 in Minneapolis, MN, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 20% more than Minneapolis, MN, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chicago, IL and Minneapolis, MN sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 130%, Minneapolis, MN by 92%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.91 $20.91

$18.12 $18.12

15.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.1 $98.1

$90.9 $90.9

7.94%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.86 $11.86

$11.94 $11.94

-0.67%

Cappuccino

$5.60 $5.60

$6.09 $6.09

-8.05%

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

$3.07 $3.07

$2.98 $2.98

3.02%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.33 $2.33

6.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.14 $7.14

$6.30 $6.30

13.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.08 $8.08

$7.07 $7.07

14.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$1.00 $1.00

5.00%

White Bread (500g)

$4.11 $4.11

$3.68 $3.68

11.68%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.61 $5.61

$5.26 $5.26

6.65%

Eggs

$4.51 $4.51

$4.13 $4.13

9.20%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.27 $14.27

$11.34 $11.34

25.84%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.89 $14.89

$14.47 $14.47

2.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.19 $19.19

$17.72 $17.72

8.30%

Apples (1kg)

$5.14 $5.14

$6.40 $6.40

-19.69%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 $1.77

$1.83 $1.83

-3.28%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.39 $4.39

$7.76 $7.76

-43.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.56 $4.56

$5.59 $5.59

-18.43%

Potato (1kg)

$2.54 $2.54

$3.17 $3.17

-19.87%

Onion (1kg)

$2.75 $2.75

$3.83 $3.83

-28.20%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.59 $2.59

-6.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$2.32 $2.32

12.93%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.92 $14.92

$11.84 $11.84

26.01%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.80 $14.80

$15.85 $15.85

-6.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$2.17 $2.17

13.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 $3.73

$4.98 $4.98

-25.10%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.48 $2.48

$2.07 $2.07

19.81%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.4 $75.4

$87.9 $87.9

-14.20%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.18 $3.18

$4.63 $4.63

-31.32%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.72 $1.72

-17.44%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.94 $24.94

$24.47 $24.47

1.92%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.06 $1.06

$0.91 $0.91

16.48%

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

$31.9K $31.9K

$30.1K $30.1K

6.07%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$25.4K $25.4K

2.53%

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

$185 $185

$163 $163

13.34%

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

$61.7 $61.7

$51.7 $51.7

19.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.9 $66.9

$67.5 $67.5

-0.79%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.2 $75.2

$55.6 $55.6

35.30%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.08 $13.08

$18.10 $18.10

-27.73%

Cinema Ticket

$14.71 $14.71

$15.08 $15.08

-2.45%

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

$2,020 $2,020

$1,611 $1,611

25.42%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.4K $39.4K

$26.0K $26.0K

51.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.6 $64.6

$62.8 $62.8

2.88%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.5 $52.5

$43.86 $43.86

19.59%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.8 $97.8

$88.3 $88.3

10.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$148 $148

$117 $117

26.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,313 $2,313

$1,666 $1,666

38.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,590 $1,590

$1,204 $1,204

32.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,608 $4,608

$2,717 $2,717

69.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,779 $2,779

$2,059 $2,059

34.92%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,922 $3,922

$3,408 $3,408

15.08%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,613 $2,613

$2,190 $2,190

19.31%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,217 $5,217

$4,407 $4,407

18.38%

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: May 30, 2026

Last update for Minneapolis, MN: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,313 in Chicago, IL versus $1,666 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 18% 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 $98.0 in Chicago, IL versus $91.0 in Minneapolis, MN. Groceries tell a different story – $447 in Chicago, IL vs $454 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: $3,077 in Chicago, IL, $2,574 in Minneapolis, MN – roughly 20% apart. Chicago, IL costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,616 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,860 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 $98.0 in Chicago, IL and $91.0 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 $3,077 in Chicago, IL and $2,574 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 $2,574 in Minneapolis, MN to $3,077 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.