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 47.2% more expensive than Saint Cloud, MN without rent, and 24.6% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 29.6% more expensive than Saint Cloud, MN without rent, and 31.5% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Saint Cloud, MN
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.10 $20.10
$18.06 $18.06
11.30%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$102 $102
$67.0 $67.0
51.80%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.02 $12.02
$8.61 $8.61
39.61%
Cappuccino
$5.62 $5.62
$4.65 $4.65
20.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01 $3.01
$2.69 $2.69
11.90%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$2.18 $2.18
7.80%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.98 $6.98
$5.56 $5.56
25.54%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$4.89 $4.89
72.80%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Saint Cloud, MN
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 $1.09
$0.96 $0.96
13.54%
White Bread (500g)
$4.12 $4.12
$2.39 $2.39
72.38%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.57 $5.57
$3.62 $3.62
53.87%
Eggs
$4.51 $4.51
$3.20 $3.20
40.94%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.42 $14.42
$9.64 $9.64
49.59%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.02 $15.02
$7.65 $7.65
96.34%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.98 $18.98
$14.55 $14.55
30.45%
Apples (1kg)
$5.20 $5.20
$3.46 $3.46
50.29%
Banana (1kg)
$1.78 $1.78
$1.20 $1.20
48.33%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.34 $4.34
$4.21 $4.21
3.09%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.53 $4.53
$5.05 $5.05
-10.30%
Potato (1kg)
$2.55 $2.55
$2.64 $2.64
-3.41%
Onion (1kg)
$2.71 $2.71
$3.21 $3.21
-15.58%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.49 $2.49
$2.02 $2.02
23.27%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.63 $2.63
$1.89 $1.89
39.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.12 $15.12
$10.58 $10.58
42.91%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.91 $14.91
$11.41 $11.41
30.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.47 $2.47
$1.76 $1.76
40.34%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66 $3.66
$3.44 $3.44
6.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Saint Cloud, MN
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.57 $2.57
$1.98 $1.98
29.80%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.3 $74.3
$59.9 $59.9
24.07%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.30 $3.30
$4.86 $4.86
-32.10%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.37 $1.37
$1.42 $1.42
-3.52%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$24.96 $24.96
$29.02 $29.02
-13.99%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.06 $1.06
$0.87 $0.87
21.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.4K $31.4K
$35.6K $35.6K
-11.62%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$25.1K $25.1K
4.48%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Saint Cloud, MN
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$187 $187
$103 $103
81.18%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.0 $63.0
$48.80 $48.80
29.00%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.8 $65.8
$65.4 $65.4
0.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Saint Cloud, MN
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$75.2 $75.2
$43.80 $43.80
71.76%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.95 $12.95
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.13 $15.13
$12.14 $12.14
24.63%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Saint Cloud, MN
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,067 $2,067
$1,441 $1,441
43.43%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$38.8K $38.8K
$30.4K $30.4K
27.39%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Saint Cloud, MN
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.0 $64.0
$39.57 $39.57
61.61%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.8 $50.8
$42.15 $42.15
20.57%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$97.3 $97.3
$75.5 $75.5
28.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$144 $144
$78.9 $78.9
81.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Saint Cloud, MN
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,338 $2,338
$1,609 $1,609
45.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,614 $1,614
$1,375 $1,375
17.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,764 $4,764
$2,627 $2,627
81.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,762 $2,762
$2,239 $2,239
23.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,766 $3,766
$2,045 $2,045
84.20%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,614 $2,614
$1,785 $1,785
46.45%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Saint Cloud, MN
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,006 $5,006
$3,947 $3,947
26.84%
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: March 3, 2026

Last update for Saint Cloud, MN: March 3, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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