Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Rolla, MO

For one person, living is cheaper in Rolla, MO: $2,476 a month against $3,037 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $6,700 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

147

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
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Chicago, IL Living Index
118

Cost of Living Index in Rolla, MO
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Rolla, MO Living Index

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Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,037

/mo nomad

Rolla, MO

🇺🇸 United States

$2,476

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chicago, IL and in Rolla, MO

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 Rolla, MO actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,037 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,476 in Rolla, MO, rent included.

Chicago, IL $3,037
Rolla, MO $2,476

A couple spends around $4,518 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,812 in Rolla, MO, rent included.

Chicago, IL $4,518
Rolla, MO $2,812

A family of three spends $5,999 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,147 in Rolla, MO, rent included.

Chicago, IL $5,999
Rolla, MO $3,147

Chicago, IL costs about 23% more than Rolla, MO, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chicago, IL and Rolla, MO sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 123%, Rolla, MO by 82%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.71 $20.71

$11.98 $11.98

72.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$89.2 $89.2

$35.43 $35.43

151.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.19 $13.19

$8.75 $8.75

50.74%

Cappuccino

$5.66 $5.66

$4.11 $4.11

37.71%

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

$2.64 $2.64

$1.95 $1.95

35.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 $2.28

$1.28 $1.28

78.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.87 $6.87

$2.99 $2.99

129.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.84 $8.84

$3.92 $3.92

125.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.25 $1.25

$0.96 $0.96

30.21%

White Bread (500g)

$3.72 $3.72

$3.44 $3.44

8.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$2.21 $2.21

143.89%

Eggs

$4.74 $4.74

$1.44 $1.44

229.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.84 $13.84

$11.13 $11.13

24.35%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.40 $14.40

$8.96 $8.96

60.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.38 $18.38

$7.94 $7.94

131.49%

Apples (1kg)

$5.22 $5.22

$4.52 $4.52

15.49%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.12 $1.12

76.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.06 $4.06

$3.05 $3.05

33.11%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.97 $4.97

$4.34 $4.34

14.52%

Potato (1kg)

$2.67 $2.67

$1.67 $1.67

59.88%

Onion (1kg)

$2.66 $2.66

$2.38 $2.38

11.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.24 $2.24

$1.77 $1.77

26.55%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.13 $3.13

$1.99 $1.99

57.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.82 $13.82

$5.09 $5.09

171.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.88 $14.88

$4.92 $4.92

202.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.54 $2.54

$1.83 $1.83

38.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.51 $3.51

$4.34 $4.34

-19.12%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.12 $2.12

14.62%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$73.5 $73.5

$60.2 $60.2

22.10%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.18 $3.18

$3.04 $3.04

4.61%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.39 $1.39

$1.40 $1.40

-0.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.03 $25.03

$36.34 $36.34

-31.12%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 $1.20

$0.84 $0.84

42.86%

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

$35.0K $35.0K

$28.5K $28.5K

23.07%

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

$26.7K $26.7K

$27.0K $27.0K

-1.03%

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

$194 $194

$277 $277

-29.71%

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

$69.5 $69.5

$59.0 $59.0

17.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.6 $61.6

$71.5 $71.5

-13.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.90 $47.90

$40.72 $40.72

17.63%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.34 $27.34

$9.94 $9.94

175.05%

Cinema Ticket

$17.81 $17.81

$9.94 $9.94

79.18%

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

$1,794 $1,794

$751 $751

138.72%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.9K $31.9K

$26.8K $26.8K

19.15%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.0 $67.0

$71.7 $71.7

-6.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.1 $52.1

$36.81 $36.81

41.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 $102

$79.5 $79.5

27.77%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$144 $144

$127 $127

13.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,526 $2,526

$1,539 $1,539

64.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,578 $1,578

$1,289 $1,289

22.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,738 $4,738

$1,083 $1,083

337.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,693 $2,693

$810 $810

232.27%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,190 $4,190

$3,159 $3,159

32.63%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,768 $2,768

$2,089 $2,089

32.51%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,931 $4,931

$4,438 $4,438

11.11%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.81

6.36

7.08%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 25, 2026

Last update for Rolla, MO: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52%

Rolla, MO

$1.3K 52% 18.3% $289

Groceries & Markets

Chicago, IL

$447 14.7%

Rolla, MO

$292 11.8% 34.6% $155

Eating Out

Chicago, IL

$345 11.4%

Rolla, MO

$207 8.4% 40% $138

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chicago, IL

$326 10.7%

Rolla, MO

$407 16.4% 25% $82

Clothing & Footwear

Chicago, IL

$164 5.4%

Rolla, MO

$142 5.7% 13.6% $22

Getting Around

Chicago, IL

$93 3.1%

Rolla, MO

$79 3.2% 15.7% $15

Sport & Entertainment

Chicago, IL

$84 2.8%

Rolla, MO

$61 2.5% 27.5% $23

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,526 in Chicago, IL versus $1,539 in Rolla, MO. 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 11% 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 $89 in Chicago, IL versus $35 in Rolla, MO. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $447 vs $292 – making Rolla, MO the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 Rolla, MO

🕒 Local time

13:47 1:47 PM

Same time as Chicago, IL

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

2,746,388

19,943

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.898 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

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Between locations

Chicago, IL Rolla, MO 560 km ≈ 1 h 15 min nonstop flight

From you

Chicago, IL
Rolla, MO

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 Rolla, MO: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,037 in Chicago, IL, $2,476 in Rolla, MO – roughly 23% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,555 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,715 in Rolla, MO. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Rolla, MO, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,539 there versus $2,526 in Chicago, IL.

Groceries cost about 53% 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 $89 in Chicago, IL and $35 in Rolla, MO. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Rolla, MO, where all-in costs run around $2,476, than in Chicago, IL at $3,037. In Rolla, MO it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chicago, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Rolla, MO – 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 Rolla, MO. 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.