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 $3,009 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,519 in Saint George, UT, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,593 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,454 in Saint George, UT, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,177 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,389 in Saint George, UT, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 19% 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 125%, Saint George, UT by 88%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.35 $20.35

$12.79 $12.79

59.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$102 $102

$69.3 $69.3

46.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.98 $11.98

$9.98 $9.98

20.04%

Cappuccino

$5.70 $5.70

$5.66 $5.66

0.71%

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

$3.00 $3.00

$1.99 $1.99

50.75%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$1.58 $1.58

55.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.87 $6.87

$5.84 $5.84

17.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.09 $8.09

$8.20 $8.20

-1.34%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.03 $1.03

$0.79 $0.79

30.38%

White Bread (500g)

$3.95 $3.95

$2.87 $2.87

37.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.42 $5.42

$4.65 $4.65

16.56%

Eggs

$4.50 $4.50

$4.06 $4.06

10.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.53 $14.53

$12.40 $12.40

17.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.89 $14.89

$9.58 $9.58

55.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.98 $18.98

$13.32 $13.32

42.49%

Apples (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$4.13 $4.13

30.51%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 $1.77

$1.63 $1.63

8.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.35 $4.35

$3.49 $3.49

24.64%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.53 $4.53

$2.70 $2.70

67.78%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.12 $2.12

19.34%

Onion (1kg)

$2.81 $2.81

$2.37 $2.37

18.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.51 $2.51

$1.66 $1.66

51.20%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.67 $2.67

$2.00 $2.00

33.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.88 $14.88

$9.47 $9.47

57.13%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.22 $15.22

$13.80 $13.80

10.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$1.76 $1.76

39.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.53 $3.53

$2.15 $2.15

64.19%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.56 $2.56

$1.99 $1.99

28.64%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.3 $74.3

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.19 $3.19

$3.52 $3.52

-9.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.41 $1.41

$1.81 $1.81

-22.10%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.49 $25.49

$31.75 $31.75

-19.72%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$0.98 $0.98

6.12%

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

$32.2K $32.2K

$30.2K $30.2K

6.85%

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

$26.8K $26.8K

$26.0K $26.0K

3.09%

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

$184 $184

$150 $150

22.86%

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

$63.1 $63.1

$59.5 $59.5

6.10%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.4 $66.4

$64.5 $64.5

2.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.9 $75.9

$34.96 $34.96

117.13%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.06 $13.06

Cinema Ticket

$15.25 $15.25

$11.72 $11.72

30.12%

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

$2,090 $2,090

$1,203 $1,203

73.83%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$13.3K $13.3K

194.83%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.2 $64.2

$43.60 $43.60

47.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.0 $51.0

$41.08 $41.08

24.15%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.2 $97.2

$85.2 $85.2

14.00%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$149 $149

$92.6 $92.6

60.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,341 $2,341

$1,447 $1,447

61.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,572 $1,572

$1,383 $1,383

13.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,741 $4,741

$2,152 $2,152

120.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,819 $2,819

$1,957 $1,957

44.07%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,900 $3,900

$3,223 $3,223

21.01%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,638 $2,638

$3,150 $3,150

-16.26%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,769 $4,769

$4,027 $4,027

18.41%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.31

4.60%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: April 25, 2026

Last update for Saint George, UT: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,341 in Chicago, IL versus $1,447 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 18% 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 $102 in Chicago, IL versus $69.0 in Saint George, UT. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $447 vs $337 – 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: $3,009 in Chicago, IL, $2,519 in Saint George, UT – roughly 19% apart. Chicago, IL costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,513 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,778 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 $102 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 33% 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 $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Saint George, UT, where all-in costs run around $2,519, than in Chicago, IL at $3,009. In Saint George, UT 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 $2,519 in Saint George, UT to $3,009 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.