Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and O'Fallon, MO Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and O'Fallon, MO

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,051 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,473 in O'Fallon, MO, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,638 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,542 in O'Fallon, MO, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,224 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,610 in O'Fallon, MO, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 23% more than O'Fallon, MO, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Chicago, IL and O'Fallon, MO sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 128%, O'Fallon, MO by 85%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.67 $20.67

$20.08 $20.08

2.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$79.5 $79.5

26.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.86 $11.86

$9.18 $9.18

29.19%

Cappuccino

$5.54 $5.54

$3.55 $3.55

56.06%

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

$3.06 $3.06

$2.30 $2.30

33.04%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 $2.48

$1.46 $1.46

69.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.92 $6.92

$2.43 $2.43

184.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.13 $8.13

$3.54 $3.54

129.66%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$0.97 $0.97

7.22%

White Bread (500g)

$3.91 $3.91

$3.34 $3.34

17.07%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.42 $5.42

$3.25 $3.25

66.77%

Eggs

$4.48 $4.48

$2.97 $2.97

50.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.52 $14.52

$7.16 $7.16

102.79%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.21 $15.21

$10.44 $10.44

45.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.25 $19.25

$12.85 $12.85

49.81%

Apples (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$4.55 $4.55

18.46%

Banana (1kg)

$1.69 $1.69

$1.51 $1.51

11.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.32 $4.32

$5.95 $5.95

-27.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$5.56 $5.56

-18.88%

Potato (1kg)

$2.56 $2.56

$3.54 $3.54

-27.68%

Onion (1kg)

$2.70 $2.70

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.41 $2.41

$1.67 $1.67

44.31%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$2.05 $2.05

27.80%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.02 $15.02

$6.07 $6.07

147.45%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.71 $14.71

$8.41 $8.41

74.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.48 $2.48

$1.99 $1.99

24.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.69 $3.69

$2.28 $2.28

61.84%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.55 $2.55

$1.94 $1.94

31.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.5 $75.5

$220 $220

-65.69%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.29 $3.29

$2.51 $2.51

31.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.43 $1.43

$2.25 $2.25

-36.44%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.72 $24.72

$21.32 $21.32

15.95%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.75 $0.75

45.33%

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

$31.8K $31.8K

$24.4K $24.4K

30.02%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$24.0K $24.0K

10.17%

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

$183 $183

$125 $125

46.58%

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

$61.8 $61.8

$59.6 $59.6

3.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.0 $65.0

$54.0 $54.0

20.47%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.1 $76.1

$43.19 $43.19

76.15%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.04 $13.04

Cinema Ticket

$14.75 $14.75

$10.42 $10.42

41.55%

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

$2,056 $2,056

$1,018 $1,018

101.95%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$38.5K $38.5K

$20.0K $20.0K

92.38%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.9 $63.9

$53.7 $53.7

19.09%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.6 $51.6

$42.59 $42.59

21.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.3 $97.3

$77.1 $77.1

26.13%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$147 $147

$70.0 $70.0

110.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,349 $2,349

$1,218 $1,218

92.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,581 $1,581

$1,175 $1,175

34.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,708 $4,708

$1,696 $1,696

177.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,716 $2,716

$1,661 $1,661

63.49%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,976 $3,976

$1,549 $1,549

156.78%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,632 $2,632

$1,630 $1,630

61.45%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,723 $4,723

$5,768 $5,768

-18.10%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.25

5.60%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: April 20, 2026

Last update for O'Fallon, MO: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,349 in Chicago, IL versus $1,218 in O'Fallon, MO. 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 22% higher in O'Fallon, MO, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $100 in Chicago, IL versus $80 in O'Fallon, MO. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $447 vs $342 – making O'Fallon, MO the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 O'Fallon, MO: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,051 in Chicago, IL, $2,473 in O'Fallon, MO – roughly 23% apart. Chicago, IL costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,577 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,710 in O'Fallon, MO. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in O'Fallon, MO, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 31% more in Chicago, IL, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $100 in Chicago, IL and $80.0 in O'Fallon, MO. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in O'Fallon, MO, where all-in costs run around $2,473, than in Chicago, IL at $3,051. In O'Fallon, MO it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chicago, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,473 in O'Fallon, MO to $3,051 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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