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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,106 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,705 in Saint Charles, IL, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,599 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,006 in Saint Charles, IL, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,092 per month in Chicago, IL vs $5,308 in Saint Charles, IL, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 15% more than Saint Charles, IL, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chicago, IL and Saint Charles, IL sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 126%, Saint Charles, IL by 97%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.86 $19.86

$37.83 $37.83

-47.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.3 $88.3

$99.6 $99.6

-11.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.23 $13.23

$10.46 $10.46

26.48%

Cappuccino

$5.86 $5.86

$6.82 $6.82

-14.08%

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

$2.61 $2.61

$3.36 $3.36

-22.32%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 $2.32

$2.91 $2.91

-20.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.03 $7.03

$6.98 $6.98

0.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.25 $9.25

$7.69 $7.69

20.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$1.05 $1.05

27.62%

White Bread (500g)

$4.19 $4.19

$3.54 $3.54

18.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.50 $5.50

$4.30 $4.30

27.91%

Eggs

$4.71 $4.71

$4.44 $4.44

6.08%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.72 $14.72

$12.39 $12.39

18.81%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.53 $14.53

$11.50 $11.50

26.35%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.69 $19.69

$13.19 $13.19

49.28%

Apples (1kg)

$5.64 $5.64

$5.07 $5.07

11.24%

Banana (1kg)

$1.97 $1.97

$1.06 $1.06

85.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.04 $4.04

$4.32 $4.32

-6.48%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.07 $5.07

$4.66 $4.66

8.80%

Potato (1kg)

$2.94 $2.94

$2.78 $2.78

5.76%

Onion (1kg)

$2.92 $2.92

$2.94 $2.94

-0.68%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.28 $2.28

$1.60 $1.60

42.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.12 $3.12

$2.23 $2.23

39.91%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$16.19 $16.19

$9.92 $9.92

63.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.17 $15.17

$14.71 $14.71

3.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.67 $2.67

$1.95 $1.95

36.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.48 $3.48

$3.35 $3.35

3.88%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.54 $2.54

$1.98 $1.98

28.28%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$76.0 $76.0

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.16 $3.16

$3.03 $3.03

4.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.37 $1.37

$1.76 $1.76

-22.16%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.66 $22.66

$29.88 $29.88

-24.16%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 $1.20

$0.97 $0.97

23.71%

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

$37.0K $37.0K

$35.8K $35.8K

3.26%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$25.9K $25.9K

0.42%

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

$190 $190

$204 $204

-6.92%

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

$68.5 $68.5

$58.9 $58.9

16.28%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.1 $61.1

$70.0 $70.0

-12.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.8 $63.8

$42.38 $42.38

50.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.80 $27.80

Cinema Ticket

$18.28 $18.28

$13.99 $13.99

30.66%

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

$1,525 $1,525

$1,451 $1,451

5.09%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$32.0K $32.0K

$23.0K $23.0K

39.11%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.0 $64.0

$52.5 $52.5

22.04%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.4 $54.4

$41.58 $41.58

30.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 $101

$88.5 $88.5

13.69%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$153 $153

$116 $116

31.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,421 $2,421

$1,614 $1,614

50.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,690 $1,690

$1,284 $1,284

31.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,584 $4,584

$2,482 $2,482

84.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,782 $2,782

$2,103 $2,103

32.28%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,170 $4,170

$2,806 $2,806

48.60%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,739 $2,739

$2,395 $2,395

14.33%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,777 $4,777

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.38

6.12

4.25%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: August 29, 2026

Last update for Saint Charles, IL: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,421 in Chicago, IL versus $1,614 in Saint Charles, 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 $88.0 in Chicago, IL versus $100 in Saint Charles, IL. Groceries tell a different story – $465 in Chicago, IL vs $381 in Saint Charles, IL – so Saint Charles, IL wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Saint Charles, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,106 in Chicago, IL, $2,705 in Saint Charles, IL – roughly 15% apart. Chicago, IL costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,659 per month in Chicago, IL and $4,057 in Saint Charles, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Saint Charles, 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 $88.0 in Chicago, IL and $100 in Saint Charles, IL. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 22% 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 $3,106 in Chicago, IL and $2,705 in Saint Charles, 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 $2,705 in Saint Charles, IL to $3,106 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Saint Charles, 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.