Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Rock Island, IL

For one person, living is cheaper in Rock Island, IL: $2,664 a month against $3,139 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $5,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

152

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
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Chicago, IL Living Index
132

Cost of Living Index in Rock Island, IL
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Rock Island, IL Living Index

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Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,139

/mo nomad

Rock Island, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$2,664

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chicago, IL and in Rock Island, IL

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 Rock Island, IL actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,139 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,664 in Rock Island, IL, rent included.

Chicago, IL $3,139
Rock Island, IL $2,664

A couple spends around $4,627 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,843 in Rock Island, IL, rent included.

Chicago, IL $4,627
Rock Island, IL $3,843

A family of three spends $6,115 per month in Chicago, IL vs $5,023 in Rock Island, IL, rent included.

Chicago, IL $6,115
Rock Island, IL $5,023

Chicago, IL costs about 18% more than Rock Island, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both Chicago, IL and Rock Island, IL sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 132%, Rock Island, IL by 97%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.65 $20.65

$20.07 $20.07

2.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$90.2 $90.2

$67.2 $67.2

34.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.94 $12.94

$12.84 $12.84

0.78%

Cappuccino

$5.60 $5.60

$5.90 $5.90

-5.08%

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

$2.64 $2.64

$3.14 $3.14

-15.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.27 $2.27

$2.40 $2.40

-5.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.98 $6.98

$7.08 $7.08

-1.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.83 $8.83

$7.97 $7.97

10.79%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 $1.27

$0.94 $0.94

35.11%

White Bread (500g)

$3.80 $3.80

$3.51 $3.51

8.26%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.30 $5.30

$4.23 $4.23

25.30%

Eggs

$4.76 $4.76

$3.71 $3.71

28.30%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.96 $13.96

$15.09 $15.09

-7.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.61 $14.61

$13.15 $13.15

11.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.77 $18.77

$20.09 $20.09

-6.57%

Apples (1kg)

$5.19 $5.19

$4.73 $4.73

9.73%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.63 $1.63

21.47%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.93 $3.93

$5.15 $5.15

-23.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.96 $4.96

$4.79 $4.79

3.55%

Potato (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$2.80 $2.80

-1.43%

Onion (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$3.13 $3.13

-11.82%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.22 $2.22

$2.16 $2.16

2.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.98 $2.98

$2.42 $2.42

23.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.02 $14.02

$10.72 $10.72

30.78%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.28 $15.28

$15.51 $15.51

-1.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.66 $2.66

-3.01%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.50 $3.50

$4.36 $4.36

-19.72%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.47 $2.47

$1.82 $1.82

35.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.8 $74.8

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$3.96 $3.96

-15.66%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.43 $1.43

$1.99 $1.99

-28.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.32 $24.32

$44.24 $44.24

-45.03%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 $1.26

$1.00 $1.00

26.00%

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

$35.0K $35.0K

$31.2K $31.2K

12.28%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$25.6K $25.6K

1.71%

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

$193 $193

$267 $267

-27.81%

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

$68.3 $68.3

$52.3 $52.3

30.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.3 $61.3

$80.6 $80.6

-23.97%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.1 $54.1

$45.16 $45.16

19.84%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.92 $27.92

Cinema Ticket

$17.74 $17.74

$15.12 $15.12

17.33%

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

$1,652 $1,652

$1,719 $1,719

-3.90%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.1K $31.1K

$23.8K $23.8K

30.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.1 $66.1

$64.5 $64.5

2.42%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.2 $51.2

$50.9 $50.9

0.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100 $100

$108 $108

-6.99%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$141 $141

$120 $120

17.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,446 $2,446

$1,812 $1,812

35.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,678 $1,678

$1,239 $1,239

35.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,717 $4,717

$2,614 $2,614

80.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,795 $2,795

$2,021 $2,021

38.32%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,105 $4,105

$2,912 $2,912

40.99%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,650 $2,650

$2,284 $2,284

16.00%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,866 $4,866

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.81

6.69

1.79%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 19, 2026

Last update for Rock Island, IL: October 17, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Chicago, IL

$1.7K 53.5%

Rock Island, IL

$1.2K 46.5% 26.2% $439

Groceries & Markets

Chicago, IL

$449 14.3%

Rock Island, IL

$431 16.2% 4.1% $18

Eating Out

Chicago, IL

$343 10.9%

Rock Island, IL

$343 12.9% 0% $0

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chicago, IL

$322 10.3%

Rock Island, IL

$400 15% 24.1% $78

Clothing & Footwear

Chicago, IL

$161 5.1%

Rock Island, IL

$154 5.8% 4.3% $7

Getting Around

Chicago, IL

$95 3%

Rock Island, IL

$21 * 0.8% 77.7% $74

Sport & Entertainment

Chicago, IL

$90 2.9%

Rock Island, IL

$75 2.8% 15.9% $14

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,446 in Chicago, IL versus $1,812 in Rock Island, IL. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $90.0 in Chicago, IL versus $67.0 in Rock Island, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $449 vs $431 – making Rock Island, IL the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 Rock Island, IL

🕒 Local time

20:50 8:50 PM

Same time as Chicago, IL

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

2,746,388

37,108

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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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 Rock Island, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,139 in Chicago, IL, $2,664 in Rock Island, IL – roughly 18% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in transport.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,708 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,995 in Rock Island, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $90.0 in Chicago, IL and $67.0 in Rock Island, IL. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 4% 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.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,139 in Chicago, IL and $2,664 in Rock Island, IL. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,664 in Rock Island, IL to $3,139 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Rock Island, IL. 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.