Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Salina, KS Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Salina, KS

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 43.3% more expensive than Salina, KS without rent, and 56.7% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 44% more expensive than Salina, KS without rent, and 52.5% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Salina, KS
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$15.28 $15.28
36.26%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$49.06 $49.06
104.53%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$9.66 $9.66
23.91%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$5.13 $5.13
8.38%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$1.82 $1.82
70.88%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$1.52 $1.52
59.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$4.42 $4.42
55.20%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$4.62 $4.62
82.90%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Salina, KS
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$0.85 $0.85
22.35%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$3.05 $3.05
36.07%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$5.49 $5.49
0.55%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$4.4 $4.4
5.68%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$10.98 $10.98
30.51%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$11.03 $11.03
34.90%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$14.25 $14.25
35.72%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$6.01 $6.01
-13.98%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.51 $1.51
13.25%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$4.65 $4.65
-5.16%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$4.66 $4.66
-3.22%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$1.5 $1.5
68.67%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$1.35 $1.35
102.96%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$1.79 $1.79
35.75%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$1.98 $1.98
36.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$7.85 $7.85
93.50%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$11.98 $11.98
37.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.81 $1.81
29.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$3.26 $3.26
13.50%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Salina, KS
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$1.46 $1.46
73.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
$25.13 $25.13
194.99%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$6.86 $6.86
-51.31%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$2.17 $2.17
-34.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$34.38 $34.38
-26.06%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.83 $0.83
30.12%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$18.6K $18.6K
74.05%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$25.1K $25.1K
4.58%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Salina, KS
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$101 $101
86.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$50.1 $50.1
27.09%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$62.9 $62.9
3.64%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Salina, KS
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$43.31 $43.31
77.14%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
$34.29 $34.29
-62.00%
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$8.23 $8.23
81.41%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Salina, KS
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$895 $895
130.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$9,750 $9,750
301.86%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Salina, KS
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$48.88 $48.88
31.57%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$34.34 $34.34
52.56%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$79 $79
20.58%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$93.9 $93.9
54.01%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Salina, KS
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$659 $659
260.77%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$866 $866
83.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$1,241 $1,241
283.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$1,656 $1,656
69.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$1,503 $1,503
138.68%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,007 $2,007
24.06%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Salina, KS
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$2,983 $2,983
76.82%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.54
0.92%

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 Salina, KS: October 29, 2025

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