Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Saint Joseph, MO Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Saint Joseph, MO

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 60.4% more expensive than Saint Joseph, MO without rent, and 26.3% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 69.3% more expensive than Saint Joseph, MO without rent, and 39.5% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Saint Joseph, MO
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$13.28 $13.28
56.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$44.3 $44.3
126.50%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$10.82 $10.82
10.63%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$4.93 $4.93
12.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.18 $2.18
42.66%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$1.1 $1.1
120.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$5.06 $5.06
35.57%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$5.88 $5.88
43.71%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Saint Joseph, MO
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$0.79 $0.79
31.65%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$3.12 $3.12
33.01%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$5.42 $5.42
1.85%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$4.37 $4.37
6.41%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$10.74 $10.74
33.43%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$4.51 $4.51
229.93%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$14.71 $14.71
31.48%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$5.94 $5.94
-12.96%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.93 $1.93
-11.40%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$4.65 $4.65
-5.16%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$4.55 $4.55
-0.88%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$4.33 $4.33
-41.57%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$3.32 $3.32
-17.47%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$1.86 $1.86
30.65%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.3 $2.3
17.39%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$10.03 $10.03
51.45%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$7.89 $7.89
108.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.76 $1.76
33.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$3.41 $3.41
8.50%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Saint Joseph, MO
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$1.95 $1.95
29.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$6.77 $6.77
-50.66%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.33 $1.33
6.77%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$34.93 $34.93
-27.23%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.82 $0.82
31.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$29.9K $29.9K
8.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$24.3K $24.3K
7.68%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Saint Joseph, MO
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$110 $110
70.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$50.2 $50.2
26.84%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$63.9 $63.9
1.99%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Saint Joseph, MO
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$42.29 $42.29
81.41%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$14.71 $14.71
1.50%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Saint Joseph, MO
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,078 $1,078
91.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$23.2K $23.2K
69.04%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Saint Joseph, MO
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$49.27 $49.27
30.53%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$34.31 $34.31
52.70%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$86.9 $86.9
9.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$92.9 $92.9
55.73%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Saint Joseph, MO
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,602 $1,602
48.43%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,334 $1,334
18.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$2,638 $2,638
80.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$2,254 $2,254
24.89%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$2,956 $2,956
21.36%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,753 $2,753
-9.53%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Saint Joseph, MO
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$2,372 $2,372
122.39%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
5.89
12.05%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Saint Joseph, MO: October 28, 2025

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