Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Prineville, OR Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Prineville, OR

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,009 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,503 in Prineville, OR, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,576 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,559 in Prineville, OR, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,143 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,614 in Prineville, OR, rent included.

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

Both Chicago, IL and Prineville, OR sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 126%, Prineville, OR by 88%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.27 $20.27

$20.11 $20.11

0.80%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$101 $101

$52.1 $52.1

93.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.04 $12.04

$11.83 $11.83

1.78%

Cappuccino

$5.76 $5.76

$4.88 $4.88

18.03%

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

$2.97 $2.97

$2.73 $2.73

8.79%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 $2.38

$1.83 $1.83

30.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.20 $7.20

$5.93 $5.93

21.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.05 $8.05

$4.99 $4.99

61.32%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$1.13 $1.13

-3.54%

White Bread (500g)

$4.12 $4.12

$4.44 $4.44

-7.21%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.29 $5.29

$4.60 $4.60

15.00%

Eggs

$4.56 $4.56

$3.70 $3.70

23.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.45 $14.45

$11.41 $11.41

26.64%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.79 $14.79

$11.78 $11.78

25.55%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.56 $19.56

$16.55 $16.55

18.19%

Apples (1kg)

$5.42 $5.42

$4.27 $4.27

26.93%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.31 $1.31

30.53%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.18 $4.18

$2.68 $2.68

55.97%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.59 $4.59

$2.94 $2.94

56.12%

Potato (1kg)

$2.48 $2.48

$2.26 $2.26

9.73%

Onion (1kg)

$2.72 $2.72

$1.88 $1.88

44.68%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.03 $2.03

21.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.72 $2.72

$1.56 $1.56

74.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.78 $14.78

$10.47 $10.47

41.17%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.30 $15.30

$12.07 $12.07

26.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$2.10 $2.10

11.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.74 $3.74

$3.40 $3.40

10.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.47 $2.47

$1.95 $1.95

26.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.0 $74.0

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.32 $3.32

$4.39 $4.39

-24.37%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.37 $1.37

$0.73 $0.73

87.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.65 $24.65

$24.21 $24.21

1.82%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$1.18 $1.18

-11.02%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$23.6K $23.6K

37.13%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$25.2K $25.2K

3.54%

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

$186 $186

$145 $145

28.74%

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

$62.6 $62.6

$46.57 $46.57

34.42%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.5 $67.5

$64.0 $64.0

5.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.2 $75.2

$43.77 $43.77

71.83%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.38 $13.38

Cinema Ticket

$15.10 $15.10

$14.14 $14.14

6.79%

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

$2,023 $2,023

$919 $919

120.03%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.9K $39.9K

$13.2K $13.2K

201.66%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.2 $64.2

$41.47 $41.47

54.91%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.2 $51.2

$30.38 $30.38

68.47%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.2 $96.2

$89.0 $89.0

7.99%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$147 $147

$83.7 $83.7

75.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,329 $2,329

$1,623 $1,623

43.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,570 $1,570

$1,335 $1,335

17.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,677 $4,677

$2,620 $2,620

78.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,810 $2,810

$2,228 $2,228

26.09%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,082 $4,082

$2,683 $2,683

52.12%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,645 $2,645

$2,606 $2,606

1.49%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,883 $4,883

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Prineville, OR: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,329 in Chicago, IL versus $1,623 in Prineville, OR. 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 $101 in Chicago, IL versus $52.0 in Prineville, OR. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $450 vs $365 – making Prineville, OR 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 Prineville, OR: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,009 in Chicago, IL, $2,503 in Prineville, OR – roughly 20% apart. Chicago, IL costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,513 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,754 in Prineville, OR. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Prineville, OR, 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 $101 in Chicago, IL and $52.0 in Prineville, OR. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 23% 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.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,009 in Chicago, IL and $2,503 in Prineville, OR. 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 $2,503 in Prineville, OR to $3,009 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Prineville, OR. 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.