Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Salt Lake City, UT Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Salt Lake City, UT

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,077 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,652 in Salt Lake City, UT, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,628 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,851 in Salt Lake City, UT, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,179 per month in Chicago, IL vs $5,050 in Salt Lake City, UT, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 16% more than Salt Lake City, UT, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chicago, IL and Salt Lake City, UT sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 130%, Salt Lake City, UT by 98%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.91 $20.91

$18.56 $18.56

12.66%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.1 $98.1

$80.9 $80.9

21.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.86 $11.86

$11.43 $11.43

3.76%

Cappuccino

$5.60 $5.60

$5.19 $5.19

7.90%

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

$3.07 $3.07

$2.28 $2.28

34.65%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$1.81 $1.81

36.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.14 $7.14

$5.95 $5.95

20.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.08 $8.08

$7.44 $7.44

8.60%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$0.93 $0.93

12.90%

White Bread (500g)

$4.11 $4.11

$3.25 $3.25

26.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.61 $5.61

$3.82 $3.82

46.86%

Eggs

$4.51 $4.51

$4.47 $4.47

0.89%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.27 $14.27

$12.37 $12.37

15.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.89 $14.89

$10.22 $10.22

45.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.19 $19.19

$16.65 $16.65

15.26%

Apples (1kg)

$5.14 $5.14

$5.23 $5.23

-1.72%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 $1.77

$2.09 $2.09

-15.31%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.39 $4.39

$3.56 $3.56

23.31%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.56 $4.56

$4.55 $4.55

0.22%

Potato (1kg)

$2.54 $2.54

$2.60 $2.60

-2.31%

Onion (1kg)

$2.75 $2.75

$2.65 $2.65

3.77%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.87 $1.87

29.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$2.00 $2.00

31.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.92 $14.92

$9.02 $9.02

65.41%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.80 $14.80

$15.02 $15.02

-1.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$1.97 $1.97

24.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 $3.73

$2.38 $2.38

56.72%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.48 $2.48

$2.53 $2.53

-1.98%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.4 $75.4

$85.9 $85.9

-12.23%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.18 $3.18

$2.56 $2.56

24.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.44 $1.44

-1.39%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.94 $24.94

$24.73 $24.73

0.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.06 $1.06

$0.99 $0.99

7.07%

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

$31.9K $31.9K

$25.2K $25.2K

26.43%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$26.3K $26.3K

-1.18%

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

$185 $185

$173 $173

7.04%

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

$61.7 $61.7

$67.2 $67.2

-8.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.9 $66.9

$83.9 $83.9

-20.23%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.2 $75.2

$27.48 $27.48

173.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.08 $13.08

$16.44 $16.44

-20.44%

Cinema Ticket

$14.71 $14.71

$14.18 $14.18

3.74%

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

$2,020 $2,020

$992 $992

103.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.4K $39.4K

$18.2K $18.2K

116.01%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.6 $64.6

$64.9 $64.9

-0.42%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.5 $52.5

$44.13 $44.13

18.85%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.8 $97.8

$105 $105

-7.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$148 $148

$111 $111

33.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,313 $2,313

$1,622 $1,622

42.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,590 $1,590

$1,410 $1,410

12.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,608 $4,608

$2,832 $2,832

62.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,779 $2,779

$2,156 $2,156

28.90%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,922 $3,922

$4,126 $4,126

-4.97%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,613 $2,613

$2,934 $2,934

-10.95%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,217 $5,217

$4,161 $4,161

25.39%

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: May 30, 2026

Last update for Salt Lake City, UT: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,313 in Chicago, IL versus $1,622 in Salt Lake City, UT. 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 25% 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 $81.0 in Salt Lake City, UT. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $447 vs $378 – making Salt Lake City, UT 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 Salt Lake City, UT: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,077 in Chicago, IL, $2,652 in Salt Lake City, UT – roughly 16% apart. Chicago, IL costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,616 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,978 in Salt Lake City, UT. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Salt Lake City, UT, 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 $98.0 in Chicago, IL and $81.0 in Salt Lake City, UT. 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 $3,077 in Chicago, IL and $2,652 in Salt Lake City, UT. 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 $2,652 in Salt Lake City, UT to $3,077 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 Salt Lake City, UT. 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.