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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,051 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,414 in Saint Joseph, MO, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,638 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,438 in Saint Joseph, MO, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,224 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,463 in Saint Joseph, MO, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 26% more than Saint Joseph, MO, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chicago, IL and Saint Joseph, MO sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 128%, Saint Joseph, MO by 80%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.67 $20.67

$13.61 $13.61

51.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$45.48 $45.48

120.89%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.86 $11.86

$10.93 $10.93

8.51%

Cappuccino

$5.54 $5.54

$4.96 $4.96

11.69%

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

$3.06 $3.06

$2.06 $2.06

48.54%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 $2.48

$1.15 $1.15

115.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.92 $6.92

$4.86 $4.86

42.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.13 $8.13

$6.07 $6.07

33.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$0.78 $0.78

33.33%

White Bread (500g)

$3.91 $3.91

$3.10 $3.10

26.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.42 $5.42

$5.46 $5.46

-0.73%

Eggs

$4.48 $4.48

$4.57 $4.57

-1.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.52 $14.52

$11.00 $11.00

32.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.21 $15.21

$4.34 $4.34

250.46%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.25 $19.25

$14.48 $14.48

32.94%

Apples (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$5.92 $5.92

-8.95%

Banana (1kg)

$1.69 $1.69

$2.04 $2.04

-17.16%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.32 $4.32

$4.82 $4.82

-10.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$4.54 $4.54

-0.66%

Potato (1kg)

$2.56 $2.56

$4.19 $4.19

-38.90%

Onion (1kg)

$2.70 $2.70

$3.39 $3.39

-20.35%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.41 $2.41

$1.79 $1.79

34.64%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$2.23 $2.23

17.49%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.02 $15.02

$9.89 $9.89

51.87%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.71 $14.71

$8.06 $8.06

82.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.48 $2.48

$1.72 $1.72

44.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.69 $3.69

$3.26 $3.26

13.19%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.55 $2.55

$1.97 $1.97

29.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.5 $75.5

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.29 $3.29

$6.88 $6.88

-52.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.43 $1.43

$1.40 $1.40

2.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.72 $24.72

$34.89 $34.89

-29.15%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.82 $0.82

32.93%

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

$31.8K $31.8K

$30.8K $30.8K

2.98%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$24.6K $24.6K

7.32%

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

$183 $183

$111 $111

65.17%

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

$61.8 $61.8

$49.92 $49.92

23.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.0 $65.0

$64.4 $64.4

1.01%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.1 $76.1

$42.88 $42.88

77.43%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.04 $13.04

Cinema Ticket

$14.75 $14.75

$15.22 $15.22

-3.09%

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

$2,056 $2,056

$1,069 $1,069

92.39%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$38.5K $38.5K

$23.6K $23.6K

63.47%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.9 $63.9

$48.85 $48.85

30.87%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.6 $51.6

$34.92 $34.92

47.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.3 $97.3

$86.4 $86.4

12.56%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$147 $147

$95.4 $95.4

54.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,349 $2,349

$1,600 $1,600

46.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,581 $1,581

$1,357 $1,357

16.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,708 $4,708

$2,614 $2,614

80.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,716 $2,716

$2,264 $2,264

19.92%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,976 $3,976

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,632 $2,632

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,723 $4,723

$2,685 $2,685

75.92%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

5.89

12.05%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: April 20, 2026

Last update for Saint Joseph, MO: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,349 in Chicago, IL versus $1,600 in Saint Joseph, MO. 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 76% 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 $100 in Chicago, IL versus $45 in Saint Joseph, MO. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $447 vs $345 – making Saint Joseph, MO 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 Joseph, MO: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,051 in Chicago, IL, $2,414 in Saint Joseph, MO – roughly 26% apart. Chicago, IL costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,577 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,621 in Saint Joseph, MO. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Saint Joseph, MO, 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 $100 in Chicago, IL and $45.00 in Saint Joseph, MO. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 29% 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 $3,051 in Chicago, IL and $2,414 in Saint Joseph, MO. 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 $2,414 in Saint Joseph, MO to $3,051 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Saint Joseph, MO. 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.