Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Roanoke, AL Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Roanoke, AL

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 20.6% more expensive than Roanoke, AL without rent, and 17.5% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 25.9% more expensive than Roanoke, AL without rent, and 26% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Roanoke, AL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$19.04 $19.04
9.35%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$73.8 $73.8
35.93%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$11.18 $11.18
7.07%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$5.01 $5.01
10.98%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.6 $2.6
19.62%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$1.94 $1.94
24.74%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$6.12 $6.12
12.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$7.02 $7.02
20.37%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Roanoke, AL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$0.99 $0.99
5.05%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$3.55 $3.55
16.90%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$4.33 $4.33
27.48%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$4.1 $4.1
13.41%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$12.5 $12.5
14.64%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$11.33 $11.33
31.33%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$15.17 $15.17
27.49%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$4.87 $4.87
6.16%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.58 $1.58
8.23%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$4.3 $4.3
2.56%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$4.77 $4.77
-5.45%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.79 $2.79
-9.32%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$2.9 $2.9
-5.52%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.02 $2.02
20.30%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.09 $2.09
29.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$9.67 $9.67
57.08%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$14.21 $14.21
15.55%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.78 $1.78
32.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$3.31 $3.31
11.78%
🚌 Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Roanoke, AL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$1.97 $1.97
28.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$3.56 $3.56
-6.18%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.6 $1.6
-11.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$29.3 $29.3
-13.24%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.86 $0.86
25.58%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$29.1K $29.1K
11.56%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$26.1K $26.1K
0.46%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Roanoke, AL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$186 $186
1.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$52 $52
22.52%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$68.2 $68.2
-4.36%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Roanoke, AL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$43.31 $43.31
77.14%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$13.24 $13.24
12.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Roanoke, AL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,302 $1,302
58.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$23K $23K
70.20%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Roanoke, AL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$50.5 $50.5
27.40%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$39.32 $39.32
33.24%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$88 $88
8.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$113 $113
27.92%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Roanoke, AL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,586 $1,586
49.92%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,362 $1,362
16.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$2,645 $2,645
80.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$2,240 $2,240
25.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$2,727 $2,727
31.56%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,426 $2,426
2.67%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Roanoke, AL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.51
1.38%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Roanoke, AL: October 28, 2025

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