Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Nicholasville, KY Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Nicholasville, KY

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 53.5% more expensive than Nicholasville, KY without rent, and 17.1% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 39% more expensive than Nicholasville, KY without rent, and 33.9% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Nicholasville, KY
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$15.26 $15.26
36.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$60.3 $60.3
66.46%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$10.11 $10.11
18.40%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$4.91 $4.91
13.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.19 $2.19
42.01%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$1.76 $1.76
37.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$4.64 $4.64
47.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$7.92 $7.92
6.69%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Nicholasville, KY
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$0.73 $0.73
42.47%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$2.74 $2.74
51.46%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$3.78 $3.78
46.03%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$3.22 $3.22
44.41%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$11.23 $11.23
27.60%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$11.06 $11.06
34.54%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$15.45 $15.45
25.18%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$4.96 $4.96
4.23%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.61 $1.61
6.21%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$5.63 $5.63
-21.67%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$4.39 $4.39
2.73%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$3.1 $3.1
-18.39%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$3.04 $3.04
-9.87%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.06 $2.06
17.96%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$1.99 $1.99
35.68%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$7.78 $7.78
95.24%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$15.69 $15.69
4.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.68 $1.68
39.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$4.93 $4.93
-24.95%
🚌 Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Nicholasville, KY
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.02 $2.02
25.25%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$5.13 $5.13
-34.89%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.51 $1.51
-5.96%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$29.33 $29.33
-13.33%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.81 $0.81
33.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$23K $23K
40.95%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$26.2K $26.2K
0.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Nicholasville, KY
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$203 $203
-7.18%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$45.31 $45.31
40.59%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$68.4 $68.4
-4.64%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Nicholasville, KY
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$42.34 $42.34
81.20%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$13.12 $13.12
13.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Nicholasville, KY
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$557 $557
270.41%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$4,970 $4,970
688.36%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Nicholasville, KY
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$46.76 $46.76
37.53%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$52.6 $52.6
-0.34%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$74.3 $74.3
28.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$108 $108
34.16%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Nicholasville, KY
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,634 $1,634
45.55%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,334 $1,334
18.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$2,608 $2,608
82.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$2,185 $2,185
28.85%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$3,079 $3,079
16.54%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,096 $2,096
18.82%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Nicholasville, KY
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.54
0.92%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Nicholasville, KY: October 28, 2025

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