Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and New Orleans, LA Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and New Orleans, LA

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 6% more expensive than New Orleans, LA without rent, and 13.5% more expensive with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 1.2% cheaper than New Orleans, LA without rent, and 11.8% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chicago, IL
New Orleans, LA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$26.12 $26.12
-20.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$125 $125
-19.91%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$11.8 $11.8
1.44%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$5.53 $5.53
0.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.86 $2.86
8.74%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$2.06 $2.06
17.48%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$5.99 $5.99
14.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$7.87 $7.87
7.37%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
New Orleans, LA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.38 $1.38
-24.64%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$4.12 $4.12
0.73%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$6.07 $6.07
-9.06%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$4.35 $4.35
6.90%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$14.74 $14.74
-2.78%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$11.07 $11.07
34.42%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$14.79 $14.79
30.76%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$5.49 $5.49
-5.83%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.72 $1.72
-0.58%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$4.97 $4.97
-11.27%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$5.19 $5.19
-13.10%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$4.02 $4.02
-37.06%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$3.28 $3.28
-16.46%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.19 $2.19
10.96%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$3.05 $3.05
-11.48%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$8.73 $8.73
74.00%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$17.39 $17.39
-5.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$2.1 $2.1
11.90%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$3.58 $3.58
3.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Chicago, IL
New Orleans, LA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$1.26 $1.26
100.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
$44.86 $44.86
65.25%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$3.55 $3.55
-5.92%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.47 $1.47
-3.40%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$34.58 $34.58
-26.49%
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
$35.2K $35.2K
-7.78%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$28.9K $28.9K
-9.36%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
New Orleans, LA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$233 $233
-19.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$58.4 $58.4
9.06%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$72.2 $72.2
-9.73%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
New Orleans, LA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$53.3 $53.3
43.94%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
$42.73 $42.73
-69.51%
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$12.86 $12.86
16.10%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
New Orleans, LA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,551 $1,551
32.97%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$10.1K $10.1K
286.24%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
New Orleans, LA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$54.6 $54.6
17.78%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$41.42 $41.42
26.48%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$77 $77
23.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$114 $114
27.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
New Orleans, LA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,797 $1,797
32.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,202 $1,202
31.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$2,976 $2,976
60.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$2,133 $2,133
31.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$2,378 $2,378
50.89%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,037 $2,037
22.28%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
New Orleans, LA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$3,879 $3,879
35.99%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.57
0.46%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for New Orleans, LA: October 27, 2025

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