Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Reno, NV

For one person, living is cheaper in Reno, NV: $2,939 a month against $3,037 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $1,200 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Chicago, IL outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

147

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
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Chicago, IL Living Index
141

Cost of Living Index in Reno, NV
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Reno, NV Living Index

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Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,037

/mo nomad

Reno, NV

🇺🇸 United States

$2,939

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chicago, IL and in Reno, NV

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chicago, IL and in Reno, NV actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,037 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,939 in Reno, NV, rent included.

Chicago, IL $3,037
Reno, NV $2,939

A couple spends around $4,518 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,216 in Reno, NV, rent included.

Chicago, IL $4,518
Reno, NV $4,216

A family of three spends $5,999 per month in Chicago, IL vs $5,494 in Reno, NV, rent included.

Chicago, IL $5,999
Reno, NV $5,494

Chicago, IL costs about 3% more than Reno, NV, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both Chicago, IL and Reno, NV sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 123%, Reno, NV by 116%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.71 $20.71

$26.27 $26.27

-21.16%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$89.2 $89.2

$86.5 $86.5

3.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.19 $13.19

$12.81 $12.81

2.97%

Cappuccino

$5.66 $5.66

$5.34 $5.34

5.99%

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

$2.64 $2.64

$2.73 $2.73

-3.30%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 $2.28

$1.94 $1.94

17.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.87 $6.87

$7.23 $7.23

-4.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.84 $8.84

$7.56 $7.56

16.93%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.25 $1.25

$1.15 $1.15

8.70%

White Bread (500g)

$3.72 $3.72

$3.98 $3.98

-6.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$3.89 $3.89

38.56%

Eggs

$4.74 $4.74

$5.25 $5.25

-9.71%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.84 $13.84

$11.74 $11.74

17.89%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.40 $14.40

$16.00 $16.00

-10.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.38 $18.38

$23.46 $23.46

-21.65%

Apples (1kg)

$5.22 $5.22

$4.44 $4.44

17.57%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.49 $1.49

32.89%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.06 $4.06

$3.01 $3.01

34.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.97 $4.97

$6.91 $6.91

-28.08%

Potato (1kg)

$2.67 $2.67

$3.07 $3.07

-13.03%

Onion (1kg)

$2.66 $2.66

$3.73 $3.73

-28.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.24 $2.24

$2.73 $2.73

-17.95%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.13 $3.13

$2.27 $2.27

37.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.82 $13.82

$10.51 $10.51

31.49%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.88 $14.88

$12.44 $12.44

19.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.54 $2.54

$1.98 $1.98

28.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.51 $3.51

$3.61 $3.61

-2.77%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.04 $2.04

19.12%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$73.5 $73.5

$64.2 $64.2

14.60%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.18 $3.18

$3.80 $3.80

-16.32%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.39 $1.39

$2.59 $2.59

-46.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.03 $25.03

$32.64 $32.64

-23.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 $1.20

$1.28 $1.28

-6.25%

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

$35.0K $35.0K

$27.6K $27.6K

26.76%

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

$26.7K $26.7K

$27.1K $27.1K

-1.50%

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

$194 $194

$177 $177

9.82%

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

$69.5 $69.5

$95.4 $95.4

-27.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.6 $61.6

$89.5 $89.5

-31.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.90 $47.90

$32.43 $32.43

47.70%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.34 $27.34

$15.91 $15.91

71.84%

Cinema Ticket

$17.81 $17.81

$14.33 $14.33

24.28%

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

$1,794 $1,794

$1,300 $1,300

37.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.9K $31.9K

$27.8K $27.8K

14.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.0 $67.0

$54.2 $54.2

23.65%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.1 $52.1

$32.80 $32.80

58.96%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 $102

$74.7 $74.7

35.90%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$144 $144

-0.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,526 $2,526

$1,829 $1,829

38.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,578 $1,578

$1,459 $1,459

8.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,738 $4,738

$2,811 $2,811

68.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,693 $2,693

$2,153 $2,153

25.06%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,190 $4,190

$3,519 $3,519

19.05%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,768 $2,768

$3,606 $3,606

-23.25%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,931 $4,931

$4,363 $4,363

13.01%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.81

6.82

-0.15%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 25, 2026

Last update for Reno, NV: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52%

Reno, NV

$1.5K 49.6% 7.5% $119

Groceries & Markets

Chicago, IL

$447 14.7%

Reno, NV

$448 15.2% 0.1% $0.6

Eating Out

Chicago, IL

$345 11.4%

Reno, NV

$383 13% 10.9% $38

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chicago, IL

$326 10.7%

Reno, NV

$362 12.3% 11.2% $36

Clothing & Footwear

Chicago, IL

$164 5.4%

Reno, NV

$138 4.7% 16.1% $26

Getting Around

Chicago, IL

$93 3.1%

Reno, NV

$89 3% 4.6% $4.3

Sport & Entertainment

Chicago, IL

$84 2.8%

Reno, NV

$61 2.1% 26.8% $22

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,526 in Chicago, IL versus $1,829 in Reno, NV. 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 13% higher in Chicago, IL. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89 in Chicago, IL versus $86 in Reno, NV. Groceries tell a different story – $447 in Chicago, IL vs $448 in Reno, NV – so Chicago, IL wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 Reno, NV

🕒 Local time

05:05 5:05 AM

03:05 3:05 AM

2 h behind Chicago, IL

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

2,746,388

271,953

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.896 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

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Between locations

Chicago, IL Reno, NV 2,710 km ≈ 4 h nonstop flight

From you

Chicago, IL
Reno, NV

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Reno, NV: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,037 in Chicago, IL, $2,939 in Reno, NV – Reno, NV comes out roughly 3% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in clothing.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,555 per month in Chicago, IL and $4,409 in Reno, NV. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Reno, NV, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,829 there versus $2,526 in Chicago, IL.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89 in Chicago, IL and $86 in Reno, NV. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Public transport costs about 13% less in Reno, NV. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,037 in Chicago, IL and $2,939 in Reno, NV. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Reno, NV – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Reno, NV. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chicago, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.