Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Normal, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Normal, IL

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 46.2% more expensive than Normal, IL without rent, and 57.6% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 43.8% more expensive than Normal, IL without rent, and 33.5% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$10.08 $10.08

106.55%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$50.4 $50.4

99.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$10.18 $10.18

17.58%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$5.07 $5.07

9.66%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$3.12 $3.12

-0.32%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.17 $2.17

11.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$4.98 $4.98

37.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$6.82 $6.82

23.90%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$0.84 $0.84

23.81%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$2.59 $2.59

60.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$3.26 $3.26

69.33%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$4.1 $4.1

13.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$8.7 $8.7

64.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$12.7 $12.7

17.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$15.18 $15.18

27.40%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$5.64 $5.64

-8.33%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.13 $1.13

51.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$4.56 $4.56

-3.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$4.73 $4.73

-4.65%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.09 $2.09

21.05%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.12 $2.12

29.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.97 $1.97

23.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$2.61 $2.61

3.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$10.52 $10.52

44.39%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$11.29 $11.29

45.44%

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

$3.01 $3.01

22.92%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.01 $2.01

25.87%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

$91.9 $91.9

-19.32%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$2.79 $2.79

19.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.58 $1.58

-10.13%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$21.2 $21.2

19.91%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.84 $0.84

28.57%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$30.1K $30.1K

7.64%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$26.1K $26.1K

0.29%

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

$188 $188

$186 $186

1.36%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$40.58 $40.58

56.97%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$62.8 $62.8

3.81%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$43.82 $43.82

75.08%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$14.56 $14.56

2.54%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$703 $703

193.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$24.3K $24.3K

61.50%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$29.69 $29.69

116.60%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$40.79 $40.79

28.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$81.1 $81.1

17.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$103 $103

40.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$1,604 $1,604

48.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$713 $713

122.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$2,584 $2,584

84.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$2,184 $2,184

28.86%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$9,944 $9,944

-63.92%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$2,174 $2,174

14.55%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$2,559 $2,559

106.16%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.55

0.76%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Normal, IL: October 26, 2025

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