Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Shreveport, LA Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Shreveport, LA

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,068 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,200 in Shreveport, LA, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,648 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,093 in Shreveport, LA, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,229 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,986 in Shreveport, LA, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 39% more than Shreveport, LA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chicago, IL and Shreveport, LA sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 130%, Shreveport, LA by 65%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.17 $20.17

$18.32 $18.32

10.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.5 $99.5

$60.3 $60.3

65.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.23 $12.23

$11.51 $11.51

6.26%

Cappuccino

$5.60 $5.60

$4.81 $4.81

16.42%

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

$3.12 $3.12

$2.44 $2.44

27.87%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.41 $2.41

0.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.93 $6.93

$4.93 $4.93

40.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.20 $8.20

$6.16 $6.16

33.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$1.03 $1.03

4.85%

White Bread (500g)

$3.97 $3.97

$3.51 $3.51

13.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.58 $5.58

$3.05 $3.05

82.95%

Eggs

$4.47 $4.47

$2.93 $2.93

52.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.50 $14.50

$9.53 $9.53

52.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.08 $15.08

$11.68 $11.68

29.11%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$4.93 $4.93

292.29%

Apples (1kg)

$5.37 $5.37

$3.72 $3.72

44.35%

Banana (1kg)

$1.76 $1.76

$1.41 $1.41

24.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.32 $4.32

$2.87 $2.87

50.52%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$3.92 $3.92

12.50%

Potato (1kg)

$2.54 $2.54

$2.24 $2.24

13.39%

Onion (1kg)

$2.70 $2.70

$2.20 $2.20

22.73%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.49 $2.49

$1.86 $1.86

33.87%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.60 $2.60

$1.33 $1.33

95.49%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.80 $14.80

$8.27 $8.27

78.96%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.18 $15.18

$12.24 $12.24

24.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$1.67 $1.67

47.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.60 $3.60

$2.23 $2.23

61.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.54 $2.54

$0.60 $0.60

323.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$76.3 $76.3

$19.94 $19.94

282.50%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.30 $3.30

$2.44 $2.44

35.25%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.38 $1.38

$1.49 $1.49

-7.38%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.36 $25.36

$24.40 $24.40

3.93%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.71 $0.71

53.52%

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

$31.6K $31.6K

$24.4K $24.4K

29.84%

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

$26.6K $26.6K

$26.1K $26.1K

1.85%

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

$186 $186

$161 $161

15.43%

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

$62.9 $62.9

$57.6 $57.6

9.21%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.2 $66.2

$92.9 $92.9

-28.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$77.6 $77.6

$40.27 $40.27

92.75%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.16 $13.16

Cinema Ticket

$14.74 $14.74

$12.17 $12.17

21.12%

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

$2,039 $2,039

$1,024 $1,024

99.05%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.9K $39.9K

$18.8K $18.8K

112.22%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.9 $63.9

$53.4 $53.4

19.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.2 $51.2

$40.63 $40.63

25.94%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$103 $103

-7.82%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$144 $144

$113 $113

27.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,305 $2,305

$1,184 $1,184

94.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,575 $1,575

$1,063 $1,063

48.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,688 $4,688

$1,671 $1,671

180.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,737 $2,737

$1,521 $1,521

80.02%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,063 $4,063

$1,374 $1,374

195.68%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,696 $2,696

$1,385 $1,385

94.68%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,019 $5,019

$3,386 $3,386

48.25%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

5.93

11.30%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: July 11, 2026

Last update for Shreveport, LA: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,305 in Chicago, IL versus $1,184 in Shreveport, LA. 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 48% 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 $60.0 in Shreveport, LA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $448 vs $301 – making Shreveport, LA 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 Shreveport, LA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,068 in Chicago, IL, $2,200 in Shreveport, LA – roughly 39% apart. Chicago, IL costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,602 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,299 in Shreveport, LA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 49% 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 $60.0 in Shreveport, LA. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Shreveport, LA, where all-in costs run around $2,200, than in Chicago, IL at $3,068. In Shreveport, LA 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 $2,200 in Shreveport, LA to $3,068 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Shreveport, LA. 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.