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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,106 per month in Chicago, IL vs $1,895 in Saint Cloud, MN, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,599 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,734 in Saint Cloud, MN, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,092 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,572 in Saint Cloud, MN, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 64% more than Saint Cloud, MN, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chicago, IL and Saint Cloud, MN sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 126%, Saint Cloud, MN by 38%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.86 $19.86

$14.85 $14.85

33.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.3 $88.3

$39.32 $39.32

124.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.23 $13.23

$8.41 $8.41

57.31%

Cappuccino

$5.86 $5.86

$4.60 $4.60

27.39%

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

$2.61 $2.61

$2.78 $2.78

-6.12%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 $2.32

$2.25 $2.25

3.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.03 $7.03

$6.05 $6.05

16.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.25 $9.25

$5.10 $5.10

81.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$0.86 $0.86

55.81%

White Bread (500g)

$4.19 $4.19

$1.50 $1.50

179.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.50 $5.50

$1.98 $1.98

177.78%

Eggs

$4.71 $4.71

$3.72 $3.72

26.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.72 $14.72

$9.84 $9.84

49.59%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.53 $14.53

$6.70 $6.70

116.87%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.69 $19.69

$18.90 $18.90

4.18%

Apples (1kg)

$5.64 $5.64

$3.79 $3.79

48.81%

Banana (1kg)

$1.97 $1.97

$1.05 $1.05

87.62%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.04 $4.04

$2.83 $2.83

42.76%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.07 $5.07

$3.46 $3.46

46.53%

Potato (1kg)

$2.94 $2.94

$2.07 $2.07

42.03%

Onion (1kg)

$2.92 $2.92

$2.87 $2.87

1.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.28 $2.28

$1.99 $1.99

14.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.12 $3.12

$3.08 $3.08

1.30%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$16.19 $16.19

$10.91 $10.91

48.40%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.17 $15.17

$14.94 $14.94

1.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.67 $2.67

$1.77 $1.77

50.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.48 $3.48

$3.03 $3.03

14.85%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.54 $2.54

$1.79 $1.79

41.90%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$76.0 $76.0

$59.8 $59.8

26.97%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.16 $3.16

$3.53 $3.53

-10.48%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.37 $1.37

$0.84 $0.84

63.10%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.66 $22.66

$12.22 $12.22

85.43%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 $1.20

$0.82 $0.82

46.34%

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

$37.0K $37.0K

$29.9K $29.9K

23.91%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$23.9K $23.9K

9.07%

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

$190 $190

$119 $119

58.83%

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

$68.5 $68.5

$46.92 $46.92

45.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.1 $61.1

$43.22 $43.22

41.25%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.8 $63.8

$25.22 $25.22

152.89%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.80 $27.80

$28.56 $28.56

-2.66%

Cinema Ticket

$18.28 $18.28

$12.12 $12.12

50.83%

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

$1,525 $1,525

$1,728 $1,728

-11.75%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$32.0K $32.0K

$5,836 $5,836

448.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.0 $64.0

$57.4 $57.4

11.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.4 $54.4

$50.2 $50.2

8.30%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 $101

$72.6 $72.6

38.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$153 $153

$80.7 $80.7

90.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,421 $2,421

$946 $946

155.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,690 $1,690

$854 $854

97.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,584 $4,584

$1,406 $1,406

226.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,782 $2,782

$1,250 $1,250

122.58%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,170 $4,170

$2,004 $2,004

108.10%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,739 $2,739

$1,766 $1,766

55.12%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,777 $4,777

$3,990 $3,990

19.72%

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 Cloud, MN: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,421 in Chicago, IL versus $946 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 20% 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 $88.0 in Chicago, IL versus $39.00 in Saint Cloud, MN. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $465 vs $322 – making Saint Cloud, MN the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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: $3,106 in Chicago, IL, $1,895 in Saint Cloud, MN – roughly 64% apart. Chicago, IL costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,659 per month in Chicago, IL and $2,843 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 45% 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 $88.0 in Chicago, IL and $39.00 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 $1,895, than in Chicago, IL at $3,106. 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 $1,895 in Saint Cloud, MN to $3,106 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.