Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Oak Lawn, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Oak Lawn, IL

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,051 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,549 in Oak Lawn, IL, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,638 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,626 in Oak Lawn, IL, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,224 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,703 in Oak Lawn, IL, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 20% more than Oak Lawn, IL, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chicago, IL and Oak Lawn, IL sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 128%, Oak Lawn, IL by 90%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.67 $20.67

$18.83 $18.83

9.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$65.5 $65.5

53.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.86 $11.86

$10.11 $10.11

17.31%

Cappuccino

$5.54 $5.54

$5.05 $5.05

9.70%

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

$3.06 $3.06

$3.09 $3.09

-0.97%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 $2.48

$2.16 $2.16

14.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.92 $6.92

$5.04 $5.04

37.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.13 $8.13

$7.04 $7.04

15.48%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$0.79 $0.79

31.65%

White Bread (500g)

$3.91 $3.91

$3.22 $3.22

21.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.42 $5.42

$3.27 $3.27

65.75%

Eggs

$4.48 $4.48

$4.35 $4.35

2.99%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.52 $14.52

$10.16 $10.16

42.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.21 $15.21

$8.63 $8.63

76.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.25 $19.25

$13.09 $13.09

47.06%

Apples (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$3.27 $3.27

64.83%

Banana (1kg)

$1.69 $1.69

$1.17 $1.17

44.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.32 $4.32

$3.30 $3.30

30.91%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$3.33 $3.33

35.44%

Potato (1kg)

$2.56 $2.56

$2.19 $2.19

16.89%

Onion (1kg)

$2.70 $2.70

$1.08 $1.08

150.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.41 $2.41

$1.93 $1.93

24.87%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$2.06 $2.06

27.18%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.02 $15.02

$10.12 $10.12

48.42%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.71 $14.71

$10.15 $10.15

44.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.48 $2.48

$1.80 $1.80

37.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.69 $3.69

$3.41 $3.41

8.21%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.55 $2.55

$2.02 $2.02

26.24%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.5 $75.5

$49.82 $49.82

51.53%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.29 $3.29

$2.85 $2.85

15.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.43 $1.43

$1.55 $1.55

-7.74%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.72 $24.72

$20.72 $20.72

19.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.79 $0.79

37.97%

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

$31.8K $31.8K

$15.8K $15.8K

100.95%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$25.7K $25.7K

2.97%

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

$183 $183

$185 $185

-1.12%

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

$61.8 $61.8

$47.55 $47.55

30.03%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.0 $65.0

$64.5 $64.5

0.90%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.1 $76.1

$42.94 $42.94

77.18%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.04 $13.04

Cinema Ticket

$14.75 $14.75

$14.43 $14.43

2.22%

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

$2,056 $2,056

$1,823 $1,823

12.77%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$38.5K $38.5K

$24.1K $24.1K

59.75%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.9 $63.9

$43.36 $43.36

47.44%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.6 $51.6

$44.66 $44.66

15.52%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.3 $97.3

$81.4 $81.4

19.54%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$147 $147

$107 $107

37.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,349 $2,349

$1,629 $1,629

44.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,581 $1,581

$1,369 $1,369

15.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,708 $4,708

$2,663 $2,663

76.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,716 $2,716

$2,207 $2,207

23.03%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,976 $3,976

$2,920 $2,920

36.19%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,632 $2,632

$2,253 $2,253

16.83%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,723 $4,723

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: April 20, 2026

Last update for Oak Lawn, IL: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,349 in Chicago, IL versus $1,629 in Oak Lawn, IL. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $100 in Chicago, IL versus $66 in Oak Lawn, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $447 vs $314 – making Oak Lawn, IL 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 Oak Lawn, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,051 in Chicago, IL, $2,549 in Oak Lawn, IL – roughly 20% apart. Chicago, IL costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,577 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,823 in Oak Lawn, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Oak Lawn, IL, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 42% 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 $66.0 in Oak Lawn, IL. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,051 in Chicago, IL and $2,549 in Oak Lawn, IL. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,549 in Oak Lawn, IL to $3,051 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Oak Lawn, IL. 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.