Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Oak Park, IL: $2,585 a month against $3,139 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $6,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

152

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
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Chicago, IL Living Index
124

Cost of Living Index in Oak Park, IL
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Oak Park, IL Living Index

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Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,139

/mo nomad

Oak Park, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$2,585

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chicago, IL and in Oak Park, 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 Oak Park, IL actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,139 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,585 in Oak Park, IL, rent included.

Chicago, IL $3,139
Oak Park, IL $2,585

A couple spends around $4,627 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,781 in Oak Park, IL, rent included.

Chicago, IL $4,627
Oak Park, IL $3,781

A family of three spends $6,115 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,977 in Oak Park, IL, rent included.

Chicago, IL $6,115
Oak Park, IL $4,977

Chicago, IL costs about 21% more than Oak Park, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both Chicago, IL and Oak Park, IL sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 132%, Oak Park, IL by 91%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.65 $20.65

$19.82 $19.82

4.19%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$90.2 $90.2

$75.3 $75.3

19.81%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.94 $12.94

$11.41 $11.41

13.41%

Cappuccino

$5.60 $5.60

$5.47 $5.47

2.38%

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

$2.64 $2.64

$2.72 $2.72

-2.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.27 $2.27

$1.96 $1.96

15.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.98 $6.98

$6.04 $6.04

15.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.83 $8.83

$7.18 $7.18

22.98%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 $1.27

$1.02 $1.02

24.51%

White Bread (500g)

$3.80 $3.80

$3.54 $3.54

7.34%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.30 $5.30

$4.22 $4.22

25.59%

Eggs

$4.76 $4.76

$4.12 $4.12

15.53%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.96 $13.96

$14.11 $14.11

-1.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.61 $14.61

$11.34 $11.34

28.84%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.77 $18.77

$16.89 $16.89

11.13%

Apples (1kg)

$5.19 $5.19

$4.97 $4.97

4.43%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.57 $1.57

26.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.93 $3.93

$4.41 $4.41

-10.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.96 $4.96

$4.47 $4.47

10.96%

Potato (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$2.72 $2.72

1.47%

Onion (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$2.75 $2.75

0.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.22 $2.22

$1.92 $1.92

15.63%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.98 $2.98

$2.54 $2.54

17.32%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.02 $14.02

$9.26 $9.26

51.40%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.28 $15.28

$14.83 $14.83

3.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.23 $2.23

15.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.50 $3.50

$3.46 $3.46

1.16%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.47 $2.47

$1.71 $1.71

44.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.8 $74.8

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$2.68 $2.68

24.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.43 $1.43

$1.98 $1.98

-27.78%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.32 $24.32

$33.26 $33.26

-26.88%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 $1.26

$1.04 $1.04

21.15%

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

$35.0K $35.0K

$25.9K $25.9K

34.96%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$24.1K $24.1K

8.06%

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

$193 $193

$198 $198

-2.49%

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

$68.3 $68.3

$59.2 $59.2

15.21%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.3 $61.3

$70.7 $70.7

-13.28%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.1 $54.1

$37.92 $37.92

42.72%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.92 $27.92

Cinema Ticket

$17.74 $17.74

$12.41 $12.41

42.95%

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

$1,652 $1,652

$1,458 $1,458

13.32%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.1K $31.1K

$23.2K $23.2K

34.06%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.1 $66.1

$53.1 $53.1

24.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.2 $51.2

$43.71 $43.71

17.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100 $100

$87.5 $87.5

14.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$141 $141

$124 $124

13.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,446 $2,446

$1,575 $1,575

55.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,678 $1,678

$1,312 $1,312

27.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,717 $4,717

$2,550 $2,550

84.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,795 $2,795

$2,168 $2,168

28.92%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,105 $4,105

$3,118 $3,118

31.68%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,650 $2,650

$2,251 $2,251

17.69%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,866 $4,866

$5,703 $5,703

-14.68%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.81

6.57

3.65%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 19, 2026

Last update for Oak Park, IL: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Chicago, IL

$1.7K 53.5%

Oak Park, IL

$1.3K 50.8% 21.8% $366

Groceries & Markets

Chicago, IL

$449 14.3%

Oak Park, IL

$403 15.6% 10.4% $47

Eating Out

Chicago, IL

$343 10.9%

Oak Park, IL

$322 12.5% 6.3% $22

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chicago, IL

$322 10.3%

Oak Park, IL

$328 12.7% 1.6% $5.3

Clothing & Footwear

Chicago, IL

$161 5.1%

Oak Park, IL

$139 5.4% 14% $23

Getting Around

Chicago, IL

$95 3%

Oak Park, IL

$19 * 0.8% 79.6% $76

Sport & Entertainment

Chicago, IL

$90 2.9%

Oak Park, IL

$63 2.4% 30% $27

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,446 in Chicago, IL versus $1,575 in Oak Park, 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 17% higher in Oak Park, IL, 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 $90.0 in Chicago, IL versus $75.0 in Oak Park, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $449 vs $403 – making Oak Park, IL the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 Oak Park, IL

🕒 Local time

23:48 11:48 PM

Same time as Chicago, IL

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

2,746,388

54,583

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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Chicago, IL Oak Park, IL 14 km

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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 Park, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,139 in Chicago, IL, $2,585 in Oak Park, IL – roughly 21% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in transport.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,708 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,877 in Oak Park, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $90.0 in Chicago, IL and $75.0 in Oak Park, IL. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 12% 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.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,139 in Chicago, IL and $2,585 in Oak Park, 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 $2,585 in Oak Park, IL to $3,139 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Oak Park, 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.