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

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 47% more expensive than Saint Charles, MO without rent, and 65.1% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 50.9% more expensive than Saint Charles, MO without rent, and 44% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Saint Charles, MO
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.62 $20.62
$15.06 $15.06
36.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$101 $101
$50.7 $50.7
99.39%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.78 $11.78
$10.9 $10.9
8.07%
Cappuccino
$5.78 $5.78
$4.07 $4.07
42.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.98 $2.98
$2.27 $2.27
31.28%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.45 $2.45
$1.48 $1.48
65.54%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.8 $6.8
$5.46 $5.46
24.54%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.48 $8.48
$5.85 $5.85
44.96%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Saint Charles, MO
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 $1.09
$0.74 $0.74
47.30%
White Bread (500g)
$4.1 $4.1
$2.14 $2.14
91.59%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.36 $5.36
$2.77 $2.77
93.50%
Eggs
$4.55 $4.55
$2.72 $2.72
67.28%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.35 $14.35
$11.41 $11.41
25.77%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.2 $15.2
$6.34 $6.34
139.75%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.97 $18.97
$13.67 $13.67
38.77%
Apples (1kg)
$5.44 $5.44
$3.14 $3.14
73.25%
Banana (1kg)
$1.72 $1.72
$1.53 $1.53
12.42%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.39 $4.39
$3.36 $3.36
30.65%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.42 $4.42
$3.36 $3.36
31.55%
Potato (1kg)
$2.57 $2.57
$1.11 $1.11
131.53%
Onion (1kg)
$2.69 $2.69
$2.35 $2.35
14.47%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.41 $2.41
$1.49 $1.49
61.74%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.72 $2.72
$1.48 $1.48
83.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.82 $14.82
$10.04 $10.04
47.61%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.71 $16.71
$11.89 $11.89
40.54%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.45 $2.45
$2.15 $2.15
13.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.58 $3.58
$3.84 $3.84
-6.77%
🚌 Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Saint Charles, MO
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.54 $2.54
$4.96 $4.96
-48.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$76.2 $76.2
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.31 $3.31
$3.44 $3.44
-3.78%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.39 $1.39
$1.51 $1.51
-7.95%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.15 $25.15
$51 $51
-50.64%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.05 $1.05
$0.99 $0.99
6.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.5K $31.5K
$29.6K $29.6K
6.28%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$23.2K $23.2K
12.86%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Saint Charles, MO
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$182 $182
$220 $220
-16.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$62.6 $62.6
$42 $42
48.95%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$66.5 $66.5
$62.2 $62.2
6.93%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Saint Charles, MO
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$77.7 $77.7
$49.93 $49.93
55.62%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.18 $13.18
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.98 $14.98
$11.89 $11.89
25.99%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Saint Charles, MO
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,022 $2,022
$1,010 $1,010
100.24%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39K $39K
$23.1K $23.1K
69.03%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Saint Charles, MO
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.3 $63.3
$44.02 $44.02
43.80%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.3 $52.3
$39.66 $39.66
31.82%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.9 $95.9
$84.3 $84.3
13.81%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$148 $148
$99.4 $99.4
49.17%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Saint Charles, MO
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,302 $2,302
$1,513 $1,513
52.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,622 $1,622
$788 $788
105.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,642 $4,642
$1,734 $1,734
167.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$1,903 $1,903
47.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,708 $3,708
$2,813 $2,813
31.85%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,559 $2,559
$2,485 $2,485
2.94%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Saint Charles, MO
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,228 $5,228
$3,709 $3,709
40.93%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.56
0.61%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: November 5, 2025

Last update for Saint Charles, MO: November 3, 2025

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