Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Monroe, LA Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Monroe, LA

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 69.8% more expensive than Monroe, LA without rent, and 70.4% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 87.9% more expensive than Monroe, LA without rent, and 56.4% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.10 $20.10

$14.78 $14.78

35.99%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$102 $102

$40.36 $40.36

152.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.02 $12.02

$10.08 $10.08

19.25%

Cappuccino

$5.62 $5.62

$2.98 $2.98

88.59%

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

$3.01 $3.01

$2.02 $2.02

49.01%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.27 $1.27

85.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.98 $6.98

$5.13 $5.13

36.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$6.58 $6.58

28.42%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$1.26 $1.26

-13.49%

White Bread (500g)

$4.12 $4.12

$2.73 $2.73

50.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.57 $5.57

$2.33 $2.33

139.06%

Eggs

$4.51 $4.51

$2.93 $2.93

53.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.42 $14.42

$8.70 $8.70

65.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.02 $15.02

$7.54 $7.54

99.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.98 $18.98

$14.72 $14.72

28.94%

Apples (1kg)

$5.20 $5.20

$5.49 $5.49

-5.28%

Banana (1kg)

$1.78 $1.78

$2.10 $2.10

-15.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.34 $4.34

$5.31 $5.31

-18.27%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.53 $4.53

$3.98 $3.98

13.82%

Potato (1kg)

$2.55 $2.55

$2.89 $2.89

-11.76%

Onion (1kg)

$2.71 $2.71

$2.70 $2.70

0.37%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.49 $2.49

$1.53 $1.53

62.75%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.63 $2.63

$1.86 $1.86

41.40%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.12 $15.12

$7.87 $7.87

92.12%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.91 $14.91

$11.90 $11.90

25.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$1.82 $1.82

35.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 $3.66

$2.82 $2.82

29.79%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.57 $2.57

$1.95 $1.95

31.79%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.3 $74.3

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.30 $3.30

$4.06 $4.06

-18.72%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.37 $1.37

$1.28 $1.28

7.03%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.96 $24.96

$60.3 $60.3

-58.60%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.06 $1.06

$0.73 $0.73

45.21%

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

$31.4K $31.4K

$36.5K $36.5K

-13.84%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$24.7K $24.7K

6.41%

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

$187 $187

$140 $140

33.01%

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

$63.0 $63.0

$43.63 $43.63

44.28%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.8 $65.8

$62.4 $62.4

5.48%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.2 $75.2

$47.47 $47.47

58.48%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.95 $12.95

Cinema Ticket

$15.13 $15.13

$12.23 $12.23

23.71%

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

$2,067 $2,067

$803 $803

157.48%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$38.8K $38.8K

$9,887 $9,887

292.07%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.0 $64.0

$35.66 $35.66

79.33%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.8 $50.8

$41.70 $41.70

21.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.3 $97.3

$62.1 $62.1

56.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$144 $144

$76.9 $76.9

86.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,338 $2,338

$1,040 $1,040

124.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,614 $1,614

$773 $773

108.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,764 $4,764

$2,508 $2,508

89.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,762 $2,762

$1,932 $1,932

42.92%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,766 $3,766

$1,988 $1,988

89.44%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,614 $2,614

$1,774 $1,774

47.35%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,006 $5,006

$3,626 $3,626

38.05%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.61

-0.15%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: March 3, 2026

Last update for Monroe, LA: March 3, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Similar cities

Copenhagen

🇩🇰 Denmark

Oslo

🇳🇴 Norway

Dallas, TX

🇺🇸 United States

Denver, CO

🇺🇸 United States

Portland, OR

🇺🇸 United States

Rotterdam

🇳🇱 Netherlands

Cork

🇮🇪 Ireland

Philadelphia, PA

🇺🇸 United States