Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Paola, KS Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Paola, KS

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 15.9% more expensive than Paola, KS without rent, and 18.3% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 50.3% more expensive than Paola, KS without rent, and 31.4% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$16.73 $16.73

24.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$60.4 $60.4

66.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$12.83 $12.83

-6.70%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$5.09 $5.09

9.23%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.49 $2.49

24.90%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.04 $2.04

18.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$5.11 $5.11

34.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$5.08 $5.08

66.34%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.1 $1.1

-5.45%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$3.16 $3.16

31.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$4.54 $4.54

21.59%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$3.06 $3.06

51.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$12.39 $12.39

15.66%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$10.3 $10.3

44.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$14.04 $14.04

37.75%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$4.09 $4.09

26.41%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$2.2 $2.2

-22.27%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$4.52 $4.52

-2.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$4.59 $4.59

-1.74%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.81 $2.81

-9.96%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.58 $2.58

6.20%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.67 $1.67

45.51%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$2.21 $2.21

22.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$8.6 $8.6

76.63%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$14.17 $14.17

15.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.9 $1.9

23.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$4.09 $4.09

-9.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.02 $2.02

25.25%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$4.85 $4.85

-31.13%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.21 $1.21

17.36%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$22.69 $22.69

12.03%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.8 $0.8

35.00%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$30.4K $30.4K

6.59%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$25.9K $25.9K

1.25%

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

$188 $188

$185 $185

1.74%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$50.3 $50.3

26.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$59.1 $59.1

10.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$42.4 $42.4

80.94%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$14.43 $14.43

3.47%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,205 $1,205

71.21%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$13K $13K

201.29%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$54.5 $54.5

17.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$33.73 $33.73

55.32%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$93.1 $93.1

2.30%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$86.8 $86.8

66.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$1,592 $1,592

49.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,336 $1,336

18.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$2,578 $2,578

84.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$2,191 $2,191

28.46%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$2,999 $2,999

19.64%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$2,339 $2,339

6.47%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.35

3.94%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Paola, KS: October 29, 2025

Similar cities

Amsterdam

🇳🇱 Netherlands

Dallas, TX

🇺🇸 United States

Denver, CO

🇺🇸 United States

Miami, FL

🇺🇸 United States

San Diego, CA

🇺🇸 United States

Philadelphia, PA

🇺🇸 United States

Atlanta, GA

🇺🇸 United States

Minneapolis, MN

🇺🇸 United States