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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,068 per month in Chicago, IL vs $1,941 in Salina, KS, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,648 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,006 in Salina, KS, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,229 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,071 in Salina, KS, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 58% more than Salina, KS, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chicago, IL and Salina, KS sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 130%, Salina, KS by 45%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.17 $20.17

$14.90 $14.90

35.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.5 $99.5

$49.39 $49.39

101.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.23 $12.23

$9.70 $9.70

26.08%

Cappuccino

$5.60 $5.60

$4.99 $4.99

12.22%

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

$3.12 $3.12

$1.82 $1.82

71.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.47 $1.47

65.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.93 $6.93

$4.62 $4.62

50.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.20 $8.20

$4.63 $4.63

77.11%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.80 $0.80

35.00%

White Bread (500g)

$3.97 $3.97

$3.19 $3.19

24.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.58 $5.58

$5.62 $5.62

-0.71%

Eggs

$4.47 $4.47

$4.53 $4.53

-1.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.50 $14.50

$10.72 $10.72

35.26%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.08 $15.08

$10.89 $10.89

38.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$14.27 $14.27

35.53%

Apples (1kg)

$5.37 $5.37

$6.02 $6.02

-10.80%

Banana (1kg)

$1.76 $1.76

$1.53 $1.53

15.03%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.32 $4.32

$4.65 $4.65

-7.10%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$4.71 $4.71

-6.37%

Potato (1kg)

$2.54 $2.54

$1.53 $1.53

66.01%

Onion (1kg)

$2.70 $2.70

$1.33 $1.33

103.01%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.49 $2.49

$1.87 $1.87

33.16%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.60 $2.60

$1.98 $1.98

31.31%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.80 $14.80

$8.17 $8.17

81.15%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.18 $15.18

$16.90 $16.90

-10.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$1.73 $1.73

42.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.60 $3.60

$3.27 $3.27

10.09%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.54 $2.54

$1.52 $1.52

67.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$76.3 $76.3

$25.26 $25.26

201.94%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.30 $3.30

$6.67 $6.67

-50.52%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.38 $1.38

$2.15 $2.15

-35.81%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.36 $25.36

$34.61 $34.61

-26.73%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.77 $0.77

41.56%

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

$31.6K $31.6K

$18.6K $18.6K

70.03%

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

$26.6K $26.6K

$24.6K $24.6K

7.79%

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

$186 $186

$102 $102

82.93%

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

$62.9 $62.9

$49.50 $49.50

26.99%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.2 $66.2

$64.6 $64.6

2.46%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$77.6 $77.6

$42.44 $42.44

82.89%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.16 $13.16

$34.52 $34.52

-61.88%

Cinema Ticket

$14.74 $14.74

$8.17 $8.17

80.42%

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

$2,039 $2,039

$887 $887

129.84%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.9K $39.9K

$9,440 $9,440

322.15%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.9 $63.9

$48.62 $48.62

31.32%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.2 $51.2

$34.52 $34.52

48.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$78.0 $78.0

22.12%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$144 $144

$92.1 $92.1

56.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,305 $2,305

$648 $648

255.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,575 $1,575

$840 $840

87.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,688 $4,688

$1,238 $1,238

278.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,737 $2,737

$1,620 $1,620

69.01%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,063 $4,063

$1,437 $1,437

182.72%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,696 $2,696

$1,812 $1,812

48.75%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,019 $5,019

$2,959 $2,959

69.63%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.54

0.92%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: July 11, 2026

Last update for Salina, KS: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,305 in Chicago, IL versus $648 in Salina, KS. 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 70% 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 $99.0 in Chicago, IL versus $49.00 in Salina, KS. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $448 vs $379 – making Salina, KS 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 Salina, KS: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,068 in Chicago, IL, $1,941 in Salina, KS – roughly 58% apart. Chicago, IL costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,602 per month in Chicago, IL and $2,912 in Salina, KS. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 18% 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 $99.0 in Chicago, IL and $49.00 in Salina, KS. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Salina, KS, where all-in costs run around $1,941, than in Chicago, IL at $3,068. In Salina, KS 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 $1,941 in Salina, KS to $3,068 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Salina, KS. 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.