Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Northfield, MN Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Northfield, MN

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 14.3% more expensive than Northfield, MN without rent, and 13.3% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 24.7% more expensive than Northfield, MN without rent, and 20.8% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Northfield, MN
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$24.95 $24.95
-16.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$61 $61
64.60%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$13.76 $13.76
-13.01%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$4.95 $4.95
12.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.3 $2.3
35.22%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$1.71 $1.71
41.52%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$6.14 $6.14
11.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$7.17 $7.17
17.85%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Northfield, MN
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.07 $1.07
-2.80%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$5.01 $5.01
-17.17%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$4.32 $4.32
27.78%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$4.32 $4.32
7.64%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$12.9 $12.9
11.09%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$17.48 $17.48
-14.87%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$9.1 $9.1
112.53%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$6.19 $6.19
-16.48%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.76 $1.76
-2.84%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$3.76 $3.76
17.29%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$4.82 $4.82
-6.43%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$3.2 $3.2
-20.94%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$3.21 $3.21
-14.64%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.69 $2.69
-9.67%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$1.41 $1.41
91.49%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$9.8 $9.8
55.00%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$19.76 $19.76
-16.90%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.85 $1.85
27.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$3.43 $3.43
7.87%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Northfield, MN
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$1.97 $1.97
28.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
$38.39 $38.39
93.10%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$3.43 $3.43
-2.62%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.67 $1.67
-14.97%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$28.89 $28.89
-12.01%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.89 $0.89
21.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$29.7K $29.7K
9.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$25.7K $25.7K
1.97%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Northfield, MN
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$190 $190
-1.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$53.1 $53.1
19.89%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$66.9 $66.9
-2.58%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Northfield, MN
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$43.66 $43.66
75.72%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$12.75 $12.75
17.10%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Northfield, MN
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,312 $1,312
57.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$23.9K $23.9K
63.98%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Northfield, MN
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$51.9 $51.9
23.98%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$39.51 $39.51
32.60%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$85.6 $85.6
11.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$110 $110
31.78%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Northfield, MN
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,572 $1,572
51.25%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,380 $1,380
14.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$2,597 $2,597
83.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$2,229 $2,229
26.30%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$2,357 $2,357
52.25%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,702 $2,702
-7.83%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Northfield, MN
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.51
1.38%

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 Northfield, MN: October 28, 2025

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