Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Saint George, UT Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Saint George, UT

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,117 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,489 in Saint George, UT, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,695 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,360 in Saint George, UT, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,273 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,230 in Saint George, UT, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 25% more than Saint George, UT, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chicago, IL and Saint George, UT sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 128%, Saint George, UT by 82%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.92 $19.92

$13.30 $13.30

49.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.5 $88.5

$68.7 $68.7

28.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.94 $12.94

$9.86 $9.86

31.24%

Cappuccino

$5.54 $5.54

$5.93 $5.93

-6.58%

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

$2.74 $2.74

$2.64 $2.64

3.79%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 $2.36

$2.25 $2.25

4.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.12 $7.12

$7.37 $7.37

-3.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.73 $8.73

$8.06 $8.06

8.31%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$0.85 $0.85

57.65%

White Bread (500g)

$4.17 $4.17

$2.91 $2.91

43.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.73 $5.73

$4.46 $4.46

28.48%

Eggs

$4.89 $4.89

$4.39 $4.39

11.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.77 $14.77

$13.52 $13.52

9.25%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.85 $14.85

$8.70 $8.70

70.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.61 $19.61

$11.92 $11.92

64.51%

Apples (1kg)

$5.57 $5.57

$4.37 $4.37

27.46%

Banana (1kg)

$1.92 $1.92

$1.48 $1.48

29.73%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.17 $4.17

$3.39 $3.39

23.01%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.86 $4.86

$2.70 $2.70

80.00%

Potato (1kg)

$2.84 $2.84

$1.94 $1.94

46.39%

Onion (1kg)

$2.80 $2.80

$2.35 $2.35

19.15%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.20 $2.20

$1.93 $1.93

13.99%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.06 $3.06

$2.20 $2.20

39.09%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$16.16 $16.16

$9.97 $9.97

62.09%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.82 $14.82

$10.81 $10.81

37.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.75 $1.75

44.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.35 $3.35

$2.93 $2.93

14.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.55 $2.55

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.6 $75.6

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.30 $3.30

$3.53 $3.53

-6.52%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.36 $1.36

$2.61 $2.61

-47.89%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.12 $25.12

$35.00 $35.00

-28.23%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.17 $1.17

$1.02 $1.02

14.71%

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

$36.0K $36.0K

$36.5K $36.5K

-1.27%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$27.4K $27.4K

-4.27%

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

$191 $191

$129 $129

48.68%

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

$67.9 $67.9

$76.9 $76.9

-11.63%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.7 $61.7

$71.6 $71.6

-13.79%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.5 $63.5

$30.16 $30.16

110.44%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.14 $27.14

Cinema Ticket

$18.02 $18.02

$13.20 $13.20

36.52%

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

$1,522 $1,522

$594 $594

156.14%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.3K $31.3K

$25.0K $25.0K

25.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.7 $63.7

$45.54 $45.54

39.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.3 $55.3

$36.20 $36.20

52.62%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100 $100

$82.1 $82.1

22.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$153 $153

$94.5 $94.5

62.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,406 $2,406

$1,539 $1,539

56.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,653 $1,653

$1,391 $1,391

18.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,577 $4,577

$2,037 $2,037

124.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,771 $2,771

$1,772 $1,772

56.43%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,031 $4,031

$3,211 $3,211

25.53%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,745 $2,745

$3,122 $3,122

-12.07%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,804 $4,804

$3,989 $3,989

20.44%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.38

6.08

4.93%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: September 13, 2026

Last update for Saint George, UT: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,406 in Chicago, IL versus $1,539 in Saint George, UT. 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 $69.0 in Saint George, UT. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $464 vs $331 – making Saint George, UT 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 George, UT: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,117 in Chicago, IL, $2,489 in Saint George, UT – roughly 25% apart. Chicago, IL costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,676 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,734 in Saint George, UT. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $88.0 in Chicago, IL and $69.0 in Saint George, UT. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the 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.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,117 in Chicago, IL and $2,489 in Saint George, UT. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,489 in Saint George, UT to $3,117 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Saint George, UT. 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.