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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,111 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,303 in Rapid City, SD, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,680 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,239 in Rapid City, SD, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,249 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,175 in Rapid City, SD, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 35% more than Rapid City, SD, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chicago, IL and Rapid City, SD sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 131%, Rapid City, SD by 71%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.39 $20.39

$15.08 $15.08

35.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.2 $98.2

$61.9 $61.9

58.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.07 $12.07

$10.35 $10.35

16.62%

Cappuccino

$5.73 $5.73

$5.19 $5.19

10.40%

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

$2.97 $2.97

$3.68 $3.68

-19.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$1.67 $1.67

47.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.99 $6.99

$3.74 $3.74

86.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.21 $8.21

$5.12 $5.12

60.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$1.03 $1.03

1.94%

White Bread (500g)

$4.08 $4.08

$2.92 $2.92

39.73%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.50 $5.50

$1.87 $1.87

194.12%

Eggs

$4.64 $4.64

$4.29 $4.29

8.16%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.40 $14.40

$13.32 $13.32

8.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.20 $15.20

$9.77 $9.77

55.58%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.28 $19.28

$12.79 $12.79

50.74%

Apples (1kg)

$5.14 $5.14

$4.98 $4.98

3.21%

Banana (1kg)

$1.76 $1.76

$1.58 $1.58

11.39%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.34 $4.34

$3.83 $3.83

13.32%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.36 $4.36

$3.83 $3.83

13.84%

Potato (1kg)

$2.44 $2.44

$2.75 $2.75

-11.27%

Onion (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$3.25 $3.25

-14.15%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.52 $2.52

$2.08 $2.08

21.15%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.66 $2.66

$2.85 $2.85

-6.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.90 $14.90

$9.78 $9.78

52.35%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.97 $14.97

$14.26 $14.26

4.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.45 $2.45

$1.78 $1.78

37.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.54 $3.54

$3.23 $3.23

9.60%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.53 $1.53

58.82%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.5 $74.5

$29.79 $29.79

150.18%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.32 $3.32

$3.20 $3.20

3.75%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.38 $1.38

$1.28 $1.28

7.81%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.11 $25.11

$24.85 $24.85

1.05%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.89 $0.89

22.47%

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

$31.9K $31.9K

$35.9K $35.9K

-11.24%

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

$26.8K $26.8K

$32.1K $32.1K

-16.39%

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

$187 $187

$170 $170

9.98%

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

$63.5 $63.5

$42.74 $42.74

48.46%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.5 $65.5

$56.4 $56.4

16.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.7 $75.7

$42.87 $42.87

76.56%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.05 $13.05

$15.08 $15.08

-13.46%

Cinema Ticket

$14.80 $14.80

$12.09 $12.09

22.42%

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

$2,025 $2,025

$691 $691

193.05%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.0K $39.0K

$23.0K $23.0K

69.21%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.2 $64.2

$62.5 $62.5

2.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.7 $51.7

$74.0 $74.0

-30.08%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.6 $95.6

$78.0 $78.0

22.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$111 $111

30.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,326 $2,326

$1,014 $1,014

129.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,611 $1,611

$1,158 $1,158

39.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,703 $4,703

$1,595 $1,595

194.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,721 $2,721

$1,703 $1,703

59.76%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,829 $3,829

$2,544 $2,544

50.49%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,533 $2,533

$2,555 $2,555

-0.88%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,100 $5,100

$3,818 $3,818

33.58%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.41

2.96%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: June 7, 2026

Last update for Rapid City, SD: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,326 in Chicago, IL versus $1,014 in Rapid City, SD. 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 34% 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 $98.0 in Chicago, IL versus $62.0 in Rapid City, SD. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $448 vs $361 – making Rapid City, SD 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 Rapid City, SD: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,111 in Chicago, IL, $2,303 in Rapid City, SD – roughly 35% apart. Chicago, IL costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,666 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,455 in Rapid City, SD. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 24% 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 $98.0 in Chicago, IL and $62.0 in Rapid City, SD. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Rapid City, SD, where all-in costs run around $2,303, than in Chicago, IL at $3,111. In Rapid City, SD it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chicago, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,303 in Rapid City, SD to $3,111 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Rapid City, SD. 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.