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

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 8.7% more expensive than Saint Louis, MO without rent, and 25.6% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 9.6% more expensive than Saint Louis, MO without rent, and 21.5% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Saint Louis, MO
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$24.76 $24.76
-15.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$70.5 $70.5
42.41%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$10.84 $10.84
10.42%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$4.91 $4.91
13.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.51 $2.51
23.90%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$1.89 $1.89
28.04%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$5.28 $5.28
29.92%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$5.83 $5.83
44.94%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Saint Louis, MO
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$0.94 $0.94
10.64%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$2.87 $2.87
44.60%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$5.72 $5.72
-3.50%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$2.8 $2.8
66.07%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$14.01 $14.01
2.28%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$11.88 $11.88
25.25%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$16.57 $16.57
16.72%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$7.36 $7.36
-29.76%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$2.2 $2.2
-22.27%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$5.87 $5.87
-24.87%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$4.17 $4.17
8.15%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$4.03 $4.03
-37.22%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$3.85 $3.85
-28.83%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.33 $2.33
4.29%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.44 $2.44
10.66%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$7.47 $7.47
103.35%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$14.78 $14.78
11.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$2.14 $2.14
9.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$3.91 $3.91
-5.37%
🚌 Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Saint Louis, MO
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.54 $2.54
-0.39%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
$78.2 $78.2
-5.20%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$3.4 $3.4
-1.76%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.52 $1.52
-6.58%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$39.43 $39.43
-35.53%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.85 $0.85
27.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$32K $32K
1.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$26.5K $26.5K
-1.19%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Saint Louis, MO
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$243 $243
-22.50%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$52.2 $52.2
22.10%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$71.4 $71.4
-8.67%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Saint Louis, MO
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$27.98 $27.98
174.20%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
$19.74 $19.74
-33.99%
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$12.96 $12.96
15.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Saint Louis, MO
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,319 $1,319
56.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$23.3K $23.3K
67.93%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Saint Louis, MO
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$52 $52
23.79%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$41.35 $41.35
26.70%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$91.4 $91.4
4.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$119 $119
21.69%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Saint Louis, MO
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,391 $1,391
70.97%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,009 $1,009
57.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$2,362 $2,362
101.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$1,985 $1,985
41.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$1,848 $1,848
94.19%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$1,684 $1,684
47.89%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Saint Louis, MO
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$4,596 $4,596
14.78%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.49
1.69%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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

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