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 42.1% more expensive than Monroe, LA without rent, and 71.4% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 60.8% more expensive than Monroe, LA without rent, and 52.6% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Monroe, LA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$14.83 $14.83
40.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$39.87 $39.87
151.67%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$10.17 $10.17
17.70%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$3.09 $3.09
79.94%
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
$1.29 $1.29
87.60%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$4.99 $4.99
37.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$6.61 $6.61
27.84%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Monroe, LA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.25 $1.25
-16.80%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$2.72 $2.72
52.57%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$2.27 $2.27
143.17%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$3.03 $3.03
53.47%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$8.62 $8.62
66.24%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$7.75 $7.75
92.00%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$14.75 $14.75
31.12%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$5.48 $5.48
-5.66%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$2.1 $2.1
-18.57%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$5.29 $5.29
-16.64%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$3.87 $3.87
16.54%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.99 $2.99
-15.38%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$2.79 $2.79
-1.79%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$1.46 $1.46
66.44%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$1.77 $1.77
52.54%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$7.54 $7.54
101.46%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$15.06 $15.06
9.03%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.81 $1.81
29.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$2.76 $2.76
34.06%
🚌 Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Monroe, LA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$1.99 $1.99
27.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$4.08 $4.08
-18.14%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.26 $1.26
12.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$60.8 $60.8
-58.20%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.79 $0.79
36.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$37.2K $37.2K
-12.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$24.9K $24.9K
5.41%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Monroe, LA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$136 $136
38.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$45.07 $45.07
41.34%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$62.1 $62.1
5.01%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Monroe, LA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$47.54 $47.54
61.38%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$12.08 $12.08
23.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Monroe, LA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$799 $799
158.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$10.1K $10.1K
286.20%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Monroe, LA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$35.46 $35.46
81.36%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$42.14 $42.14
24.32%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$62.9 $62.9
51.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$79.7 $79.7
81.53%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Monroe, LA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,027 $1,027
131.61%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$785 $785
101.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$2,506 $2,506
90.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$1,892 $1,892
48.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$2,319 $2,319
54.74%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,023 $2,023
23.10%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Monroe, LA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$2,488 $2,488
112.02%
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: October 29, 2025

Last update for Monroe, LA: October 28, 2025

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