Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Rapid City, SD Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Rapid City, SD

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 31% more expensive than Rapid City, SD without rent, and 31.9% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 26.8% more expensive than Rapid City, SD without rent, and 43.5% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Rapid City, SD
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$15.25 $15.25
36.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$63.3 $63.3
58.49%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$10.36 $10.36
15.54%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$5.45 $5.45
2.02%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$3.66 $3.66
-15.03%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$1.62 $1.62
49.38%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$3.68 $3.68
86.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$5.09 $5.09
66.01%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Rapid City, SD
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.08 $1.08
-3.70%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$2.91 $2.91
42.61%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$1.99 $1.99
177.39%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$4.37 $4.37
6.41%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$13.46 $13.46
6.46%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$9.4 $9.4
58.30%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$12.91 $12.91
49.81%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$4.78 $4.78
8.16%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.57 $1.57
8.92%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$3.92 $3.92
12.50%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$3.93 $3.93
14.76%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.85 $2.85
-11.23%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$3.12 $3.12
-12.18%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.18 $2.18
11.47%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.82 $2.82
-4.26%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$9.7 $9.7
56.60%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$13.81 $13.81
18.90%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.71 $1.71
37.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$4.97 $4.97
-25.55%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Rapid City, SD
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$1.52 $1.52
66.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
$29.83 $29.83
148.51%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$3.24 $3.24
3.09%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.21 $1.21
17.36%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$25.39 $25.39
0.12%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.91 $0.91
18.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$34.8K $34.8K
-6.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$32.3K $32.3K
-18.87%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Rapid City, SD
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$173 $173
8.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$42.7 $42.7
49.18%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$57.1 $57.1
14.23%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Rapid City, SD
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$50.4 $50.4
52.37%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
$15.22 $15.22
-14.39%
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$12.2 $12.2
22.38%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Rapid City, SD
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$699 $699
194.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$23.1K $23.1K
69.43%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Rapid City, SD
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$61.1 $61.1
5.20%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$74.3 $74.3
-29.44%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$77.5 $77.5
22.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$112 $112
29.53%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Rapid City, SD
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,050 $1,050
126.56%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,123 $1,123
41.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$1,561 $1,561
205.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$1,708 $1,708
64.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$2,552 $2,552
40.59%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,594 $2,594
-4.02%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Rapid City, SD
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$3,891 $3,891
35.55%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.41
2.96%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Rapid City, SD: October 28, 2025

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