Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Saratoga Springs, UT,: $2,455 a month against $3,185 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $8,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

153

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
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Chicago, IL Living Index
119

Cost of Living Index in Saratoga Springs, UT,
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Saratoga Springs, UT, Living Index

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Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,185

/mo nomad

Saratoga Springs, UT,

🇺🇸 United States

$2,455

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chicago, IL and in Saratoga Springs, UT,

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chicago, IL and in Saratoga Springs, UT, actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,185 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,455 in Saratoga Springs, UT,, rent included.

Chicago, IL $3,185
Saratoga Springs, UT, $2,455

A couple spends around $4,631 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,722 in Saratoga Springs, UT,, rent included.

Chicago, IL $4,631
Saratoga Springs, UT, $3,722

A family of three spends $6,077 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,988 in Saratoga Springs, UT,, rent included.

Chicago, IL $6,077
Saratoga Springs, UT, $4,988

Chicago, IL costs about 30% more than Saratoga Springs, UT,, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Chicago, IL and Saratoga Springs, UT, sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 136%, Saratoga Springs, UT, by 82%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$21.58 $21.58

$20.11 $20.11

7.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.7 $88.7

$81.2 $81.2

9.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.20 $13.20

$11.56 $11.56

14.19%

Cappuccino

$5.59 $5.59

$5.21 $5.21

7.29%

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

$2.63 $2.63

$2.69 $2.69

-2.23%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.26 $2.26

$2.03 $2.03

11.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.11 $7.11

$6.06 $6.06

17.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.23 $9.23

$7.32 $7.32

26.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.28 $1.28

$0.97 $0.97

31.96%

White Bread (500g)

$3.84 $3.84

$3.51 $3.51

9.40%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.07 $5.07

$2.54 $2.54

99.61%

Eggs

$4.84 $4.84

$4.65 $4.65

4.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.17 $14.17

$16.52 $16.52

-14.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.61 $14.61

$13.49 $13.49

8.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.76 $18.76

$14.32 $14.32

31.01%

Apples (1kg)

$5.19 $5.19

$6.52 $6.52

-20.40%

Banana (1kg)

$2.00 $2.00

$1.57 $1.57

27.39%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.00 $4.00

$5.72 $5.72

-30.07%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.98 $4.98

$4.69 $4.69

6.18%

Potato (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$4.73 $4.73

-41.01%

Onion (1kg)

$2.65 $2.65

$4.21 $4.21

-37.05%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.13 $2.13

$1.91 $1.91

11.52%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.09 $3.09

$3.02 $3.02

2.32%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$16.05 $16.05

$8.52 $8.52

88.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.20 $15.20

$14.88 $14.88

2.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$1.79 $1.79

46.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.46 $3.46

$3.50 $3.50

-1.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.04 $2.04

21.08%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.1 $75.1

$45.60 $45.60

64.69%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.21 $3.21

$3.06 $3.06

4.90%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.39 $1.39

$1.91 $1.91

-27.23%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.02 $25.02

$31.13 $31.13

-19.63%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 $1.24

$1.13 $1.13

9.73%

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

$37.2K $37.2K

$31.6K $31.6K

17.84%

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

$25.8K $25.8K

$22.0K $22.0K

17.57%

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

$192 $192

$202 $202

-4.99%

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

$67.8 $67.8

$58.5 $58.5

15.87%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$60.9 $60.9

$69.9 $69.9

-12.94%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.6 $53.6

$65.1 $65.1

-17.69%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.90 $27.90

Cinema Ticket

$17.80 $17.80

$10.83 $10.83

64.36%

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

$1,554 $1,554

$1,393 $1,393

11.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.4K $31.4K

$21.1K $21.1K

48.44%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.9 $67.9

$54.0 $54.0

25.80%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.8 $50.8

$40.82 $40.82

24.35%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 $101

$88.2 $88.2

15.08%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$113 $113

26.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,383 $2,383

$1,184 $1,184

101.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,712 $1,712

$1,082 $1,082

58.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,674 $4,674

$2,042 $2,042

128.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,738 $2,738

$1,933 $1,933

41.67%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,158 $4,158

$2,527 $2,527

64.53%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,691 $2,691

$2,543 $2,543

5.82%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,894 $4,894

$4,863 $4,863

0.64%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.77

6.57

3.04%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 12, 2026

Last update for Saratoga Springs, UT,: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Chicago, IL

$1.7K 53.8%

Saratoga Springs, UT,

$1.1K 44.1% 36.8% $630

Groceries & Markets

Chicago, IL

$451 14.2%

Saratoga Springs, UT,

$434 17.7% 3.8% $17

Eating Out

Chicago, IL

$353 11.1%

Saratoga Springs, UT,

$322 13.1% 8.8% $31

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chicago, IL

$321 10.1%

Saratoga Springs, UT,

$331 13.5% 3.1% $9.8

Clothing & Footwear

Chicago, IL

$164 5.1%

Saratoga Springs, UT,

$133 5.4% 18.5% $30

Getting Around

Chicago, IL

$95 3%

Saratoga Springs, UT,

$66 2.7% 30.2% $29

Sport & Entertainment

Chicago, IL

$89 2.8%

Saratoga Springs, UT,

$87 3.5% 2.7% $2.4

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,383 in Chicago, IL versus $1,184 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 1% 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 $89.0 in Chicago, IL versus $81.0 in Saratoga Springs, UT,. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $451 vs $434 – making Saratoga Springs, UT, the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 Saratoga Springs, UT,

🕒 Local time

13:33 1:33 PM

12:33 12:33 PM

1 h behind Chicago, IL

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

2,746,388

28,491

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.889 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

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Between locations

Chicago, IL Saratoga Springs, UT, 2,030 km ≈ 3 h nonstop flight

From you

Chicago, IL
Saratoga Springs, UT,

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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: $3,185 in Chicago, IL, $2,455 in Saratoga Springs, UT, – roughly 30% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in eating out.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,777 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,683 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 4% 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 $89.0 in Chicago, IL and $81.0 in Saratoga Springs, UT,. 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 Saratoga Springs, UT,, where all-in costs run around $2,455, than in Chicago, IL at $3,185. In Saratoga Springs, UT, 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 $2,455 in Saratoga Springs, UT, to $3,185 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.