Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Saratoga Springs, UT, Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Saratoga Springs, UT,

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,117 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,608 in Saratoga Springs, UT,, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,601 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,864 in Saratoga Springs, UT,, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,085 per month in Chicago, IL vs $5,120 in Saratoga Springs, UT,, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 19% more than Saratoga Springs, UT,, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chicago, IL and Saratoga Springs, UT, sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 134%, Saratoga Springs, UT, by 96%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.18 $20.18

$19.06 $19.06

5.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$101 $101

$75.1 $75.1

34.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.09 $12.09

$10.85 $10.85

11.43%

Cappuccino

$5.75 $5.75

$5.19 $5.19

10.79%

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

$2.98 $2.98

$2.47 $2.47

20.65%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$1.95 $1.95

26.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.04 $7.04

$5.86 $5.86

20.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.27 $8.27

$6.86 $6.86

20.55%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.99 $0.99

9.09%

White Bread (500g)

$4.14 $4.14

$3.49 $3.49

18.62%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.38 $5.38

$4.40 $4.40

22.27%

Eggs

$4.52 $4.52

$4.29 $4.29

5.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.25 $14.25

$12.23 $12.23

16.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.04 $15.04

$11.64 $11.64

29.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.84 $18.84

$15.17 $15.17

24.19%

Apples (1kg)

$5.13 $5.13

$5.00 $5.00

2.60%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 $1.70

$1.64 $1.64

3.66%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.24 $4.24

$4.28 $4.28

-0.93%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.43 $4.43

$4.60 $4.60

-3.70%

Potato (1kg)

$2.57 $2.57

$2.92 $2.92

-11.99%

Onion (1kg)

$2.73 $2.73

$2.79 $2.79

-2.15%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.52 $2.52

$2.12 $2.12

18.87%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$2.10 $2.10

24.76%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.91 $14.91

$9.88 $9.88

50.91%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.19 $15.19

$15.07 $15.07

0.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$1.80 $1.80

36.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.74 $3.74

$3.42 $3.42

9.36%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.48 $2.48

$2.06 $2.06

20.39%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$73.6 $73.6

$44.86 $44.86

64.13%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.31 $3.31

$3.46 $3.46

-4.34%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.36 $1.36

$1.58 $1.58

-13.92%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.06 $25.06

$29.51 $29.51

-15.08%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$0.84 $0.84

25.00%

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

$32.6K $32.6K

$29.7K $29.7K

9.64%

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

$26.5K $26.5K

$25.4K $25.4K

4.23%

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

$187 $187

$189 $189

-0.79%

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

$63.6 $63.6

$53.6 $53.6

18.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.0 $66.0

$68.8 $68.8

-4.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$77.1 $77.1

$43.37 $43.37

77.80%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.92 $12.92

Cinema Ticket

$15.15 $15.15

$13.31 $13.31

13.82%

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

$2,029 $2,029

$1,275 $1,275

59.16%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$38.7K $38.7K

$23.3K $23.3K

65.94%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.5 $63.5

$50.7 $50.7

25.23%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.1 $52.1

$39.46 $39.46

31.96%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.1 $96.1

$85.6 $85.6

12.23%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$148 $148

$111 $111

33.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,343 $2,343

$1,631 $1,631

43.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,623 $1,623

$1,337 $1,337

21.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,601 $4,601

$2,633 $2,633

74.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,774 $2,774

$2,182 $2,182

27.17%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,933 $3,933

$2,862 $2,862

37.45%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,562 $2,562

$2,558 $2,558

0.16%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,176 $5,176

$4,763 $4,763

8.68%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.51

1.38%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: June 14, 2026

Last update for Saratoga Springs, UT,: June 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,343 in Chicago, IL versus $1,631 in Saratoga Springs, 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 9% 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 $101 in Chicago, IL versus $75.0 in Saratoga Springs, UT,. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $446 vs $389 – making Saratoga Springs, 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 Saratoga Springs, UT,: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,117 in Chicago, IL, $2,608 in Saratoga Springs, UT, – roughly 19% apart. Chicago, IL costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,675 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,913 in Saratoga Springs, UT,. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 15% 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 $101 in Chicago, IL and $75.0 in Saratoga Springs, 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 $3,117 in Chicago, IL and $2,608 in Saratoga Springs, 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 $2,608 in Saratoga Springs, UT, to $3,117 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 Saratoga Springs, 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.