Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Saint Cloud, MN: $1,894 a month against $3,139 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $14,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

152

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
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Chicago, IL Living Index
91

Cost of Living Index in Saint Cloud, MN
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Saint Cloud, MN Living Index

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Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,139

/mo nomad

Saint Cloud, MN

🇺🇸 United States

$1,894

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chicago, IL and in Saint Cloud, MN

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chicago, IL and in Saint Cloud, MN actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,139 per month in Chicago, IL vs $1,894 in Saint Cloud, MN, rent included.

Chicago, IL $3,139
Saint Cloud, MN $1,894

A couple spends around $4,627 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,718 in Saint Cloud, MN, rent included.

Chicago, IL $4,627
Saint Cloud, MN $2,718

A family of three spends $6,115 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,543 in Saint Cloud, MN, rent included.

Chicago, IL $6,115
Saint Cloud, MN $3,543

Chicago, IL costs about 66% more than Saint Cloud, MN, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chicago, IL and Saint Cloud, MN sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 132%, Saint Cloud, MN by 40%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.65 $20.65

$15.19 $15.19

35.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$90.2 $90.2

$40.27 $40.27

124.06%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.94 $12.94

$8.63 $8.63

49.94%

Cappuccino

$5.60 $5.60

$4.47 $4.47

25.28%

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

$2.64 $2.64

$2.88 $2.88

-8.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.27 $2.27

$2.25 $2.25

0.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.98 $6.98

$6.08 $6.08

14.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.83 $8.83

$4.85 $4.85

82.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 $1.27

$0.92 $0.92

38.04%

White Bread (500g)

$3.80 $3.80

$1.50 $1.50

153.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.30 $5.30

$1.90 $1.90

178.95%

Eggs

$4.76 $4.76

$3.78 $3.78

25.93%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.96 $13.96

$9.54 $9.54

46.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.61 $14.61

$6.53 $6.53

123.74%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.77 $18.77

$19.42 $19.42

-3.35%

Apples (1kg)

$5.19 $5.19

$3.66 $3.66

41.80%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.09 $1.09

81.65%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.93 $3.93

$2.82 $2.82

39.36%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.96 $4.96

$3.63 $3.63

36.64%

Potato (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$2.03 $2.03

35.96%

Onion (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$2.91 $2.91

-5.15%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.22 $2.22

$1.99 $1.99

11.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.98 $2.98

$3.08 $3.08

-3.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.02 $14.02

$11.38 $11.38

23.20%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.28 $15.28

$15.07 $15.07

1.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$1.69 $1.69

52.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.50 $3.50

$3.04 $3.04

15.13%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.47 $2.47

$1.71 $1.71

44.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.8 $74.8

$59.8 $59.8

24.97%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$3.48 $3.48

-4.02%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.43 $1.43

$0.84 $0.84

70.24%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.32 $24.32

$12.16 $12.16

100.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 $1.26

$0.92 $0.92

36.96%

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

$35.0K $35.0K

$30.2K $30.2K

15.89%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$23.7K $23.7K

9.99%

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

$193 $193

$118 $118

63.43%

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

$68.3 $68.3

$46.72 $46.72

46.08%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.3 $61.3

$43.38 $43.38

41.31%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.1 $54.1

$24.65 $24.65

119.55%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.92 $27.92

$28.09 $28.09

-0.61%

Cinema Ticket

$17.74 $17.74

$12.18 $12.18

45.65%

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

$1,652 $1,652

$1,709 $1,709

-3.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.1K $31.1K

$5,778 $5,778

437.60%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.1 $66.1

$57.4 $57.4

15.02%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.2 $51.2

$50.1 $50.1

2.36%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100 $100

$73.4 $73.4

36.48%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$141 $141

$78.9 $78.9

78.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,446 $2,446

$931 $931

162.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,678 $1,678

$862 $862

94.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,717 $4,717

$1,371 $1,371

244.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,795 $2,795

$1,290 $1,290

116.66%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,105 $4,105

$1,993 $1,993

105.97%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,650 $2,650

$1,745 $1,745

51.83%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,866 $4,866

$3,967 $3,967

22.66%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.81

6.61

3.03%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 19, 2026

Last update for Saint Cloud, MN: October 17, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Chicago, IL

$1.7K 53.5%

Saint Cloud, MN

$862 45.5% 48.6% $816

Groceries & Markets

Chicago, IL

$449 14.3%

Saint Cloud, MN

$322 17% 28.3% $127

Eating Out

Chicago, IL

$343 10.9%

Saint Cloud, MN

$262 13.8% 23.8% $82

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chicago, IL

$322 10.3%

Saint Cloud, MN

$208 11% 35.5% $114

Clothing & Footwear

Chicago, IL

$161 5.1%

Saint Cloud, MN

$117 6.2% 27.5% $44

Getting Around

Chicago, IL

$95 3%

Saint Cloud, MN

$74 3.9% 21.8% $21

Sport & Entertainment

Chicago, IL

$90 2.9%

Saint Cloud, MN

$49 2.6% 45.3% $41

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,446 in Chicago, IL versus $931 in Saint Cloud, MN. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 23% higher in Chicago, IL, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $90.0 in Chicago, IL versus $40.00 in Saint Cloud, MN. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $449 vs $322 – making Saint Cloud, MN the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 Saint Cloud, MN

🕒 Local time

22:12 10:12 PM

Same time as Chicago, IL

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

2,746,388

67,109

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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Between locations

Chicago, IL Saint Cloud, MN 670 km ≈ 1 h 15 min nonstop flight

From you

Chicago, IL
Saint Cloud, MN

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Cloud, MN: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,139 in Chicago, IL, $1,894 in Saint Cloud, MN – roughly 66% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,708 per month in Chicago, IL and $2,841 in Saint Cloud, MN. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Saint Cloud, MN, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 40% 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $90.0 in Chicago, IL and $40.00 in Saint Cloud, MN. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Saint Cloud, MN, where all-in costs run around $1,894, than in Chicago, IL at $3,139. In Saint Cloud, MN it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chicago, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,894 in Saint Cloud, MN to $3,139 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Saint Cloud, MN. 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.