Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Orem, UT Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Orem, UT

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,009 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,691 in Orem, UT, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,576 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,676 in Orem, UT, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,143 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,662 in Orem, UT, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 12% more than Orem, UT, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chicago, IL and Orem, UT sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 126%, Orem, UT by 102%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.27 $20.27

$14.77 $14.77

37.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$101 $101

$60.2 $60.2

67.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.04 $12.04

$10.94 $10.94

10.05%

Cappuccino

$5.76 $5.76

$5.95 $5.95

-3.19%

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

$2.97 $2.97

$1.79 $1.79

65.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 $2.38

$1.21 $1.21

96.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.20 $7.20

$6.12 $6.12

17.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.05 $8.05

$7.69 $7.69

4.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.93 $0.93

17.20%

White Bread (500g)

$4.12 $4.12

$3.27 $3.27

25.99%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.29 $5.29

$2.21 $2.21

139.37%

Eggs

$4.56 $4.56

$2.94 $2.94

55.10%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.45 $14.45

$13.82 $13.82

4.56%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.79 $14.79

$12.66 $12.66

16.82%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.56 $19.56

$21.63 $21.63

-9.57%

Apples (1kg)

$5.42 $5.42

$3.87 $3.87

40.05%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.62 $1.62

5.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.18 $4.18

$2.95 $2.95

41.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.59 $4.59

$5.46 $5.46

-15.93%

Potato (1kg)

$2.48 $2.48

$2.11 $2.11

17.54%

Onion (1kg)

$2.72 $2.72

$1.97 $1.97

38.07%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.47 $2.47

$1.83 $1.83

34.97%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.72 $2.72

$1.96 $1.96

38.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.78 $14.78

$9.07 $9.07

62.95%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.30 $15.30

$15.12 $15.12

1.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$2.21 $2.21

6.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.74 $3.74

$3.09 $3.09

21.04%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.43 $2.43

1.65%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.0 $74.0

$84.5 $84.5

-12.34%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.32 $3.32

$1.52 $1.52

118.42%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.37 $1.37

$0.95 $0.95

44.21%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.65 $24.65

$20.07 $20.07

22.82%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$0.89 $0.89

17.98%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$23.5K $23.5K

37.93%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$22.9K $22.9K

13.81%

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

$186 $186

$149 $149

24.90%

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

$62.6 $62.6

$47.96 $47.96

30.53%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.5 $67.5

$66.9 $66.9

0.88%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.2 $75.2

$29.91 $29.91

151.45%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.38 $13.38

Cinema Ticket

$15.10 $15.10

$12.63 $12.63

19.56%

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

$2,023 $2,023

$937 $937

115.99%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.9K $39.9K

$9,854 $9,854

304.69%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.2 $64.2

$53.0 $53.0

21.14%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.2 $51.2

$34.78 $34.78

47.15%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.2 $96.2

$84.9 $84.9

13.22%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$147 $147

$157 $157

-6.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,329 $2,329

$1,789 $1,789

30.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,570 $1,570

$1,447 $1,447

8.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,677 $4,677

$3,577 $3,577

30.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,810 $2,810

$1,953 $1,953

43.88%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,082 $4,082

$2,293 $2,293

78.01%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,645 $2,645

$2,276 $2,276

16.19%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,883 $4,883

$3,621 $3,621

34.87%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.87

-3.93%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: July 27, 2026

Last update for Orem, UT: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,329 in Chicago, IL versus $1,789 in Orem, UT. 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 35% 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 $101 in Chicago, IL versus $60.0 in Orem, UT. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $450 vs $389 – making Orem, UT 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 Orem, UT: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,009 in Chicago, IL, $2,691 in Orem, UT – roughly 12% apart. Chicago, IL costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,513 per month in Chicago, IL and $4,036 in Orem, UT. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 16% 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 $101 in Chicago, IL and $60.0 in Orem, UT. 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 $3,009 in Chicago, IL and $2,691 in Orem, UT. 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 $2,691 in Orem, UT to $3,009 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 Orem, UT. 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.