Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Rochester, MN Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Rochester, MN

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 31.2% more expensive than Rochester, MN without rent, and 6.4% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 33.9% more expensive than Rochester, MN without rent, and 17.6% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Rochester, MN
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$15.97 $15.97
30.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$75.9 $75.9
32.15%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$10.82 $10.82
10.63%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$6.34 $6.34
-12.30%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.56 $2.56
21.48%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$2.32 $2.32
4.31%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$4.9 $4.9
40.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$7.06 $7.06
19.69%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Rochester, MN
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$0.92 $0.92
13.04%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$2.56 $2.56
62.11%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$2.16 $2.16
155.56%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$3.6 $3.6
29.17%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$12.76 $12.76
12.30%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$11.81 $11.81
25.99%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$16.48 $16.48
17.35%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$4.57 $4.57
13.13%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.56 $1.56
9.62%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$3.62 $3.62
21.82%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$3.5 $3.5
28.86%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$2 $2
26.50%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$3.05 $3.05
-10.16%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.98 $2.98
-18.46%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$3.07 $3.07
-12.05%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$9.14 $9.14
66.19%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$13.91 $13.91
18.04%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.76 $1.76
33.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$3.04 $3.04
21.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Rochester, MN
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.04 $2.04
24.02%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
$42.81 $42.81
73.16%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$2.04 $2.04
63.73%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$2.13 $2.13
-33.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$20.27 $20.27
25.41%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.84 $0.84
28.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$26.5K $26.5K
22.35%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$24.4K $24.4K
7.50%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Rochester, MN
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$126 $126
49.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$51.5 $51.5
23.81%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$60.2 $60.2
8.36%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Rochester, MN
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$69.2 $69.2
10.95%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$12.44 $12.44
20.02%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Rochester, MN
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,384 $1,384
48.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$11.6K $11.6K
237.90%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Rochester, MN
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$63.1 $63.1
1.97%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$62.7 $62.7
-16.43%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$71.8 $71.8
32.55%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$85.6 $85.6
68.98%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Rochester, MN
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,488 $1,488
59.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,609 $1,609
-1.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$2,074 $2,074
129.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$2,627 $2,627
7.14%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$2,077 $2,077
72.71%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,043 $2,043
21.91%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Rochester, MN
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$4,755 $4,755
10.94%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.4
3.12%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Rochester, MN: October 29, 2025

Join the CityCost newsletter – low traffic, no spam, and easy to unsubscribe. Your email stays private.