Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Saint Paul, MN Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Saint Paul, MN

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,111 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,353 in Saint Paul, MN, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,680 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,785 in Saint Paul, MN, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,249 per month in Chicago, IL vs $5,217 in Saint Paul, MN, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 32% more than Saint Paul, MN, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chicago, IL and Saint Paul, MN sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 131%, Saint Paul, MN by 75%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.39 $20.39

$18.13 $18.13

12.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.2 $98.2

$65.6 $65.6

49.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.07 $12.07

$9.95 $9.95

21.31%

Cappuccino

$5.73 $5.73

$5.16 $5.16

11.05%

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

$2.97 $2.97

$2.82 $2.82

5.32%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.40 $2.40

2.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.99 $6.99

$5.83 $5.83

19.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.21 $8.21

$6.83 $6.83

20.20%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$1.03 $1.03

1.94%

White Bread (500g)

$4.08 $4.08

$4.17 $4.17

-2.16%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.50 $5.50

$3.86 $3.86

42.49%

Eggs

$4.64 $4.64

$3.19 $3.19

45.45%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.40 $14.40

$9.29 $9.29

55.01%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.20 $15.20

$11.91 $11.91

27.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.28 $19.28

$14.05 $14.05

37.22%

Apples (1kg)

$5.14 $5.14

$5.08 $5.08

1.18%

Banana (1kg)

$1.76 $1.76

$1.16 $1.16

51.72%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.34 $4.34

$5.61 $5.61

-22.64%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.36 $4.36

$5.34 $5.34

-18.35%

Potato (1kg)

$2.44 $2.44

$3.92 $3.92

-37.76%

Onion (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$3.69 $3.69

-24.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.52 $2.52

$2.03 $2.03

24.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.66 $2.66

$1.89 $1.89

40.74%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.90 $14.90

$10.52 $10.52

41.63%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.97 $14.97

$14.31 $14.31

4.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.45 $2.45

$1.72 $1.72

42.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.54 $3.54

$4.63 $4.63

-23.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.29 $2.29

6.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.5 $74.5

$120 $120

-37.80%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.32 $3.32

$5.11 $5.11

-35.03%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.38 $1.38

$1.42 $1.42

-2.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.11 $25.11

$29.47 $29.47

-14.79%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.81 $0.81

34.57%

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

$31.9K $31.9K

$35.6K $35.6K

-10.63%

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

$26.8K $26.8K

$25.4K $25.4K

5.73%

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

$187 $187

$221 $221

-15.43%

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

$63.5 $63.5

$48.60 $48.60

30.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.5 $65.5

$72.5 $72.5

-9.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.7 $75.7

$41.05 $41.05

84.38%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.05 $13.05

$9.92 $9.92

31.55%

Cinema Ticket

$14.80 $14.80

$13.74 $13.74

7.71%

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

$2,025 $2,025

$1,480 $1,480

36.83%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.0K $39.0K

$30.3K $30.3K

28.66%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.2 $64.2

$38.80 $38.80

65.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.7 $51.7

$41.22 $41.22

25.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.6 $95.6

$85.7 $85.7

11.58%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$125 $125

15.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,326 $2,326

$1,245 $1,245

86.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,611 $1,611

$1,022 $1,022

57.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,703 $4,703

$2,235 $2,235

110.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,721 $2,721

$2,244 $2,244

21.29%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,829 $3,829

$2,952 $2,952

29.72%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,533 $2,533

$2,240 $2,240

13.05%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,100 $5,100

$4,103 $4,103

24.28%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.43

2.64%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: June 7, 2026

Last update for Saint Paul, MN: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,326 in Chicago, IL versus $1,245 in Saint Paul, MN. 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 24% 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 $98.0 in Chicago, IL versus $66.0 in Saint Paul, MN. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $448 vs $388 – making Saint Paul, MN 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 Paul, MN: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,111 in Chicago, IL, $2,353 in Saint Paul, MN – roughly 32% apart. Chicago, IL costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,666 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,529 in Saint Paul, MN. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 16% 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 mid-range dinner for two costs $98.0 in Chicago, IL and $66.0 in Saint Paul, MN. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Saint Paul, MN, where all-in costs run around $2,353, than in Chicago, IL at $3,111. In Saint Paul, MN 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 $2,353 in Saint Paul, MN to $3,111 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 Paul, MN. 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.