Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Saint Cloud, MN Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Saint Cloud, MN

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 39.8% more expensive than Saint Cloud, MN without rent, and 22.5% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 46.6% more expensive than Saint Cloud, MN without rent, and 36.1% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Saint Cloud, MN
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$18.13 $18.13
14.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$67.2 $67.2
49.34%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$8.46 $8.46
41.49%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$4.56 $4.56
21.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.73 $2.73
13.92%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$2.17 $2.17
11.52%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$5.49 $5.49
24.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$5.06 $5.06
67.00%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Saint Cloud, MN
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$0.89 $0.89
16.85%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$2.39 $2.39
73.64%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$3.73 $3.73
47.99%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$3.34 $3.34
39.22%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$9.47 $9.47
51.32%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$7.77 $7.77
91.51%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$14.52 $14.52
33.20%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$3.52 $3.52
46.88%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.15 $1.15
48.70%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$4.11 $4.11
7.30%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$5.3 $5.3
-14.91%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.68 $2.68
-5.60%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$3.05 $3.05
-10.16%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$1.99 $1.99
22.11%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$1.93 $1.93
39.90%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$10.71 $10.71
41.83%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$11.46 $11.46
43.28%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.68 $1.68
39.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$3.59 $3.59
3.06%
🚌 Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Saint Cloud, MN
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$1.97 $1.97
28.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
$60.3 $60.3
23.04%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$5.1 $5.1
-34.51%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.43 $1.43
-0.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$29.71 $29.71
-14.44%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.81 $0.81
33.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$35.8K $35.8K
-9.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$26K $26K
0.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Saint Cloud, MN
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$107 $107
76.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$49.24 $49.24
29.37%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$64.9 $64.9
0.48%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Saint Cloud, MN
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$43.09 $43.09
78.05%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$11.85 $11.85
25.99%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Saint Cloud, MN
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,439 $1,439
43.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$30.3K $30.3K
29.16%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Saint Cloud, MN
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$38.74 $38.74
66.00%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$42.35 $42.35
23.71%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$75.3 $75.3
26.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$80.6 $80.6
79.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Saint Cloud, MN
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,591 $1,591
49.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,333 $1,333
18.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$2,663 $2,663
78.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$2,245 $2,245
25.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$1,989 $1,989
80.37%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$1,731 $1,731
43.84%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Saint Cloud, MN
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$3,968 $3,968
32.94%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.3
4.76%

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 Cloud, MN: October 26, 2025

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