Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Normal, IL: $2,272 a month against $3,037 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $9,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

147

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
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Chicago, IL Living Index
110

Cost of Living Index in Normal, IL
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Normal, IL Living Index

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Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,037

/mo nomad

Normal, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$2,272

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chicago, IL and in Normal, IL

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chicago, IL and in Normal, IL actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,037 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,272 in Normal, IL, rent included.

Chicago, IL $3,037
Normal, IL $2,272

A couple spends around $4,518 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,329 in Normal, IL, rent included.

Chicago, IL $4,518
Normal, IL $3,329

A family of three spends $5,999 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,386 in Normal, IL, rent included.

Chicago, IL $5,999
Normal, IL $4,386

Chicago, IL costs about 34% more than Normal, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Chicago, IL and Normal, IL sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 123%, Normal, IL by 67%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.71 $20.71

$11.32 $11.32

82.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$89.2 $89.2

$49.63 $49.63

79.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.19 $13.19

$9.83 $9.83

34.18%

Cappuccino

$5.66 $5.66

$5.02 $5.02

12.75%

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

$2.64 $2.64

$3.42 $3.42

-22.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 $2.28

$1.51 $1.51

50.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.87 $6.87

$5.08 $5.08

35.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.84 $8.84

$5.83 $5.83

51.63%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.25 $1.25

$0.74 $0.74

68.92%

White Bread (500g)

$3.72 $3.72

$2.62 $2.62

41.98%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$3.29 $3.29

63.83%

Eggs

$4.74 $4.74

$3.76 $3.76

26.06%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.84 $13.84

$8.90 $8.90

55.51%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.40 $14.40

$12.75 $12.75

12.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.38 $18.38

$18.79 $18.79

-2.18%

Apples (1kg)

$5.22 $5.22

$6.64 $6.64

-21.39%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.23 $1.23

60.98%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.06 $4.06

$6.66 $6.66

-39.04%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.97 $4.97

$5.03 $5.03

-1.19%

Potato (1kg)

$2.67 $2.67

$3.25 $3.25

-17.85%

Onion (1kg)

$2.66 $2.66

$3.21 $3.21

-17.13%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.24 $2.24

$1.99 $1.99

12.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.13 $3.13

$2.30 $2.30

36.09%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.82 $13.82

$11.32 $11.32

22.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.88 $14.88

$10.99 $10.99

35.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.54 $2.54

$1.91 $1.91

32.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.51 $3.51

$3.03 $3.03

15.84%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.53 $2.53

-3.95%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$73.5 $73.5

$91.1 $91.1

-19.32%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.18 $3.18

$5.57 $5.57

-42.91%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.39 $1.39

$1.03 $1.03

34.95%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.03 $25.03

$18.02 $18.02

38.90%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 $1.20

$0.89 $0.89

34.83%

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

$35.0K $35.0K

$27.9K $27.9K

25.73%

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

$26.7K $26.7K

$26.4K $26.4K

1.10%

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

$194 $194

$273 $273

-28.79%

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

$69.5 $69.5

$97.9 $97.9

-29.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.6 $61.6

$64.6 $64.6

-4.55%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.90 $47.90

$39.33 $39.33

21.79%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.34 $27.34

Cinema Ticket

$17.81 $17.81

$11.76 $11.76

51.45%

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

$1,794 $1,794

$1,061 $1,061

69.04%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.9K $31.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.0 $67.0

$29.92 $29.92

124.00%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.1 $52.1

$40.57 $40.57

28.52%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 $102

$66.5 $66.5

52.61%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$144 $144

$150 $150

-4.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,526 $2,526

$974 $974

159.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,578 $1,578

$905 $905

74.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,738 $4,738

$1,800 $1,800

163.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,693 $2,693

$1,587 $1,587

69.71%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,190 $4,190

$9,690 $9,690

-56.76%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,768 $2,768

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,931 $4,931

$4,164 $4,164

18.40%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.81

6.55

3.97%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 25, 2026

Last update for Normal, IL: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52%

Normal, IL

$905 39.8% 42.7% $673

Groceries & Markets

Chicago, IL

$447 14.7%

Normal, IL

$390 17.2% 12.8% $57

Eating Out

Chicago, IL

$345 11.4%

Normal, IL

$237 10.4% 31.3% $108

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chicago, IL

$326 10.7%

Normal, IL

$436 19.2% 33.8% $110

Clothing & Footwear

Chicago, IL

$164 5.4%

Normal, IL

$129 5.7% 21.2% $35

Getting Around

Chicago, IL

$93 3.1%

Normal, IL

$112 4.9% 20% $19

Sport & Entertainment

Chicago, IL

$84 2.8%

Normal, IL

$63 2.8% 24.7% $21

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,526 in Chicago, IL versus $974 in Normal, IL. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 18% higher in Chicago, IL, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89 in Chicago, IL versus $50 in Normal, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $447 vs $390 – making Normal, IL the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 Normal, IL

🕒 Local time

18:45 6:45 PM

Same time as Chicago, IL

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

2,746,388

52,497

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.898 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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Chicago, IL Normal, IL 190 km

From you

Chicago, IL
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Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Chicago, IL vs Normal, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,037 in Chicago, IL, $2,272 in Normal, IL – Normal, IL comes out roughly 25% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in eating out.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,555 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,408 in Normal, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Normal, IL, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $974 there versus $2,526 in Chicago, IL.

Groceries cost about 15% more in Chicago, IL, though the gap depends on what you buy.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89 in Chicago, IL and $50 in Normal, IL. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,037 in Chicago, IL and $2,272 in Normal, IL. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Normal, IL – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Normal, IL. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chicago, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.