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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,117 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,433 in Saint Louis, MO, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,695 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,689 in Saint Louis, MO, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,273 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,945 in Saint Louis, MO, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 28% more than Saint Louis, MO, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Chicago, IL and Saint Louis, MO sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 128%, Saint Louis, MO by 78%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.92 $19.92

$18.03 $18.03

10.48%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.5 $88.5

$78.0 $78.0

13.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.94 $12.94

$11.97 $11.97

8.10%

Cappuccino

$5.54 $5.54

$5.14 $5.14

7.78%

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

$2.74 $2.74

$2.46 $2.46

11.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 $2.36

$1.69 $1.69

39.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.12 $7.12

$5.85 $5.85

21.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.73 $8.73

$7.10 $7.10

22.96%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$1.28 $1.28

4.69%

White Bread (500g)

$4.17 $4.17

$3.83 $3.83

8.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.73 $5.73

$5.70 $5.70

0.53%

Eggs

$4.89 $4.89

$3.99 $3.99

22.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.77 $14.77

$13.36 $13.36

10.55%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.85 $14.85

$15.51 $15.51

-4.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.61 $19.61

$20.56 $20.56

-4.62%

Apples (1kg)

$5.57 $5.57

$8.55 $8.55

-34.85%

Banana (1kg)

$1.92 $1.92

$2.36 $2.36

-18.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.17 $4.17

$5.69 $5.69

-26.71%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.86 $4.86

$5.29 $5.29

-8.13%

Potato (1kg)

$2.84 $2.84

$4.30 $4.30

-33.95%

Onion (1kg)

$2.80 $2.80

$4.89 $4.89

-42.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.20 $2.20

$2.91 $2.91

-24.40%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.06 $3.06

$2.84 $2.84

7.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$16.16 $16.16

$8.04 $8.04

101.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.82 $14.82

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.90 $2.90

-12.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.35 $3.35

$3.34 $3.34

0.30%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.55 $2.55

$2.53 $2.53

0.79%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.6 $75.6

$78.8 $78.8

-4.04%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.30 $3.30

$3.40 $3.40

-2.94%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.36 $1.36

$1.59 $1.59

-14.47%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.12 $25.12

$40.34 $40.34

-37.73%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.17 $1.17

$0.93 $0.93

25.81%

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

$36.0K $36.0K

$34.7K $34.7K

3.84%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$24.8K $24.8K

5.66%

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

$191 $191

$246 $246

-22.15%

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

$67.9 $67.9

$70.2 $70.2

-3.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.7 $61.7

$74.9 $74.9

-17.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.5 $63.5

$32.06 $32.06

97.97%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.14 $27.14

$19.91 $19.91

36.31%

Cinema Ticket

$18.02 $18.02

$14.14 $14.14

27.44%

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

$1,522 $1,522

$1,390 $1,390

9.50%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.3K $31.3K

$23.8K $23.8K

31.32%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.7 $63.7

$58.0 $58.0

9.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.3 $55.3

$43.00 $43.00

28.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100 $100

$88.4 $88.4

13.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$153 $153

$117 $117

31.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,406 $2,406

$1,532 $1,532

56.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,653 $1,653

$930 $930

77.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,577 $4,577

$2,052 $2,052

123.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,771 $2,771

$1,694 $1,694

63.56%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,031 $4,031

$1,368 $1,368

194.60%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,745 $2,745

$1,813 $1,813

51.39%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,804 $4,804

$4,265 $4,265

12.64%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.38

6.09

4.76%

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 Louis, MO: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,406 in Chicago, IL versus $1,532 in Saint Louis, 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 13% 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 $78.0 in Saint Louis, MO. Groceries tell a different story – $464 in Chicago, IL vs $495 in Saint Louis, MO – so Chicago, IL wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Louis, MO: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,117 in Chicago, IL, $2,433 in Saint Louis, MO – roughly 28% apart. Chicago, IL costs more across the board, with Sport & Entertainment showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,676 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,650 in Saint Louis, MO. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Interestingly, groceries are about 7% cheaper in Chicago, IL – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $88.0 in Chicago, IL and $78.0 in Saint Louis, MO. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,117 in Chicago, IL and $2,433 in Saint Louis, 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 $2,433 in Saint Louis, MO to $3,117 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Saint Louis, 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.