Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Sioux City, IA Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Sioux City, IA

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 39.4% more expensive than Sioux City, IA without rent, and 41.5% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 35% more expensive than Sioux City, IA without rent, and 47.8% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Sioux City, IA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.10 $20.10
$15.92 $15.92
26.26%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$102 $102
$55.4 $55.4
83.74%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.02 $12.02
$10.73 $10.73
12.02%
Cappuccino
$5.62 $5.62
$6.37 $6.37
-11.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01 $3.01
$2.27 $2.27
32.60%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.78 $1.78
32.02%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.98 $6.98
$4.86 $4.86
43.62%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$7.02 $7.02
20.37%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Sioux City, IA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 $1.09
$0.95 $0.95
14.74%
White Bread (500g)
$4.12 $4.12
$2.56 $2.56
60.94%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.57 $5.57
$2.15 $2.15
159.07%
Eggs
$4.51 $4.51
$3.52 $3.52
28.12%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.42 $14.42
$8.16 $8.16
76.72%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.02 $15.02
$7.58 $7.58
98.15%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.98 $18.98
$16.93 $16.93
12.11%
Apples (1kg)
$5.20 $5.20
$4.43 $4.43
17.38%
Banana (1kg)
$1.78 $1.78
$1.57 $1.57
13.38%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.34 $4.34
$3.62 $3.62
19.89%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.53 $4.53
$3.54 $3.54
27.97%
Potato (1kg)
$2.55 $2.55
$1.98 $1.98
28.79%
Onion (1kg)
$2.71 $2.71
$3.00 $3.00
-9.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.49 $2.49
$2.33 $2.33
6.87%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.63 $2.63
$2.14 $2.14
22.90%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.12 $15.12
$9.22 $9.22
63.99%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.91 $14.91
$14.43 $14.43
3.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.47 $2.47
$1.68 $1.68
47.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66 $3.66
$4.08 $4.08
-10.29%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Sioux City, IA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.57 $2.57
$1.75 $1.75
46.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.3 $74.3
$47.93 $47.93
54.98%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.30 $3.30
$2.04 $2.04
61.76%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.37 $1.37
$1.33 $1.33
3.01%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$24.96 $24.96
$19.90 $19.90
25.43%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.06 $1.06
$0.72 $0.72
47.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.4K $31.4K
$26.4K $26.4K
18.89%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$24.5K $24.5K
7.19%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Sioux City, IA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$187 $187
$142 $142
30.92%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.0 $63.0
$51.9 $51.9
21.36%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.8 $65.8
$74.6 $74.6
-11.76%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Sioux City, IA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$75.2 $75.2
$98.6 $98.6
-23.73%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.95 $12.95
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.13 $15.13
$14.87 $14.87
1.75%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Sioux City, IA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,067 $2,067
$1,071 $1,071
92.96%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$38.8K $38.8K
$11.6K $11.6K
233.12%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Sioux City, IA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.0 $64.0
$43.28 $43.28
47.76%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.8 $50.8
$21.63 $21.63
134.95%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$97.3 $97.3
$72.0 $72.0
35.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$144 $144
$86.9 $86.9
65.19%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Sioux City, IA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,338 $2,338
$762 $762
206.91%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,614 $1,614
$934 $934
72.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,764 $4,764
$1,455 $1,455
227.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,762 $2,762
$1,745 $1,745
58.23%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,766 $3,766
$1,521 $1,521
147.55%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,614 $2,614
$1,530 $1,530
70.88%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Sioux City, IA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,006 $5,006
$3,570 $3,570
40.21%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.61
-0.15%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chicago, IL: March 3, 2026

Last update for Sioux City, IA: March 2, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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