Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Saint Charles, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Saint Charles, IL

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 16.5% more expensive than Saint Charles, IL without rent, and 8.3% more expensive with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 7% cheaper than Saint Charles, IL without rent, and 12.7% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$37.55 $37.55

-44.55%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$99 $99

1.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$10.35 $10.35

15.65%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$6.86 $6.86

-18.95%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$3.26 $3.26

-4.60%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.92 $2.92

-17.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$6.89 $6.89

-0.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$7.56 $7.56

11.77%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1 $1

4.00%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$3.6 $3.6

15.28%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$4.34 $4.34

27.19%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$4.56 $4.56

1.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$12.03 $12.03

19.12%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$11.27 $11.27

32.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$13.2 $13.2

46.52%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$4.98 $4.98

3.82%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.02 $1.02

67.65%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$4.12 $4.12

7.04%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$4.63 $4.63

-2.59%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.78 $2.78

-8.99%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.78 $2.78

-1.44%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.54 $1.54

57.79%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$2.12 $2.12

27.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$9.75 $9.75

55.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$14.1 $14.1

16.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.83 $1.83

28.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$3.4 $3.4

8.82%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.05 $2.05

23.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$3.53 $3.53

-5.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.65 $1.65

-13.94%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$29.7 $29.7

-14.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.88 $0.88

22.73%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$30K $30K

8.06%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$25.2K $25.2K

4.03%

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

$188 $188

$185 $185

1.77%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$53.4 $53.4

19.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$67.4 $67.4

-3.21%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$42.53 $42.53

80.39%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$13.64 $13.64

9.46%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,309 $1,309

57.53%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$23.5K $23.5K

66.57%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$51.2 $51.2

25.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$39.27 $39.27

33.41%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$86.3 $86.3

10.31%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$112 $112

29.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$1,580 $1,580

50.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,357 $1,357

16.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$2,648 $2,648

79.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$2,212 $2,212

27.23%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$2,654 $2,654

35.20%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$2,575 $2,575

-3.30%

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 Saint Charles, IL: October 28, 2025

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