Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Monticello, AR Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Monticello, AR

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 41.6% more expensive than Monticello, AR without rent, and 23.9% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 33.7% more expensive than Monticello, AR without rent, and 33.6% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Monticello, AR
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$19.55 $19.55
6.50%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$73.9 $73.9
35.83%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$9.82 $9.82
21.89%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$5.33 $5.33
4.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.47 $2.47
25.91%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$2.01 $2.01
20.40%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$5.95 $5.95
15.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$8.24 $8.24
2.55%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Monticello, AR
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$0.93 $0.93
11.83%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$1.16 $1.16
257.76%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$2.06 $2.06
167.96%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$4 $4
16.25%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$8.63 $8.63
66.05%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$6.52 $6.52
128.22%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$8.91 $8.91
117.06%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$3.47 $3.47
48.99%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.24 $1.24
37.90%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$2.73 $2.73
61.54%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$2.15 $2.15
109.77%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$3.17 $3.17
-20.19%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$2.31 $2.31
18.61%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$1.9 $1.9
27.89%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.39 $2.39
12.97%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$7.81 $7.81
94.49%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$14.24 $14.24
15.31%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.76 $1.76
33.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$1.93 $1.93
91.71%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Monticello, AR
Difference
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
$2.02 $2.02
65.35%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.35 $1.35
5.19%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$20.16 $20.16
26.09%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.76 $0.76
42.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$33.1K $33.1K
-1.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$27.3K $27.3K
-3.92%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Monticello, AR
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$216 $216
-12.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$39.44 $39.44
61.51%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$44.27 $44.27
47.28%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Monticello, AR
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$42.46 $42.46
80.69%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$10.94 $10.94
36.47%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Monticello, AR
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,211 $1,211
70.29%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$26.8K $26.8K
46.45%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Monticello, AR
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$23.78 $23.78
170.44%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$32.49 $32.49
61.25%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$70 $70
36.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$136 $136
6.37%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Monticello, AR
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,603 $1,603
48.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,337 $1,337
18.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$2,634 $2,634
80.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$2,256 $2,256
24.78%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$2,559 $2,559
40.20%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,638 $2,638
-5.62%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Monticello, AR
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.53
1.07%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Monticello, AR: October 29, 2025

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