Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and South Bend, IN Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and South Bend, IN

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 35.6% more expensive than South Bend, IN without rent, and 64.7% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 43.1% more expensive than South Bend, IN without rent, and 63.9% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$15.23 $15.23

36.70%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$60.7 $60.7

65.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$7.66 $7.66

56.27%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$4.84 $4.84

14.88%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$1.93 $1.93

61.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.51 $1.51

60.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$5.94 $5.94

15.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$7.63 $7.63

10.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$0.84 $0.84

23.81%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$2.66 $2.66

56.02%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$2.63 $2.63

109.89%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$3.04 $3.04

52.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$11.56 $11.56

23.96%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$10.28 $10.28

44.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$9.73 $9.73

98.77%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$4.35 $4.35

18.85%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.3 $1.3

31.54%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$2.5 $2.5

76.40%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$1.74 $1.74

159.20%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.14 $2.14

18.22%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$1.63 $1.63

68.10%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.48 $1.48

64.19%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$2.03 $2.03

33.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$6.41 $6.41

136.97%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$12.87 $12.87

27.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$2.07 $2.07

13.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$6.16 $6.16

-39.94%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.02 $1.02

148.04%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

$34.9 $34.9

112.41%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$3.41 $3.41

-2.05%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.63 $1.63

-12.88%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$29.64 $29.64

-14.24%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.83 $0.83

30.12%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$24.9K $24.9K

29.96%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$26K $26K

0.88%

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

$188 $188

$173 $173

8.54%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$44.54 $44.54

43.02%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$49.9 $49.9

30.66%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$42.11 $42.11

82.19%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

$26.12 $26.12

-50.11%

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$13.52 $13.52

10.43%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,333 $1,333

54.74%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$23.4K $23.4K

67.78%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$40.1 $40.1

60.37%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$29.48 $29.48

77.71%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$49.33 $49.33

93.01%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$50.6 $50.6

185.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$1,651 $1,651

44.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$838 $838

89.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$2,496 $2,496

90.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$1,603 $1,603

75.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$1,508 $1,508

137.98%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$1,552 $1,552

60.45%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$3,273 $3,273

61.18%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.4

3.12%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for South Bend, IN: October 29, 2025

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