Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Spring Valley, IL

For one person, living is cheaper in Spring Valley, IL: $2,937 a month against $3,037 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $1,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

147

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
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Chicago, IL Living Index
133

Cost of Living Index in Spring Valley, IL
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Spring Valley, IL Living Index

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Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,037

/mo nomad

Spring Valley, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$2,937

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chicago, IL and in Spring Valley, IL

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 Spring Valley, IL actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,037 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,937 in Spring Valley, IL, rent included.

Chicago, IL $3,037
Spring Valley, IL $2,937

A couple spends around $4,518 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,026 in Spring Valley, IL, rent included.

Chicago, IL $4,518
Spring Valley, IL $4,026

A family of three spends $5,999 per month in Chicago, IL vs $5,115 in Spring Valley, IL, rent included.

Chicago, IL $5,999
Spring Valley, IL $5,115

Chicago, IL costs about 3% more than Spring Valley, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chicago, IL and Spring Valley, IL sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 123%, Spring Valley, IL by 116%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.71 $20.71

$19.63 $19.63

5.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$89.2 $89.2

$68.0 $68.0

31.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.19 $13.19

$13.13 $13.13

0.46%

Cappuccino

$5.66 $5.66

$5.64 $5.64

0.35%

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

$2.64 $2.64

$3.06 $3.06

-13.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 $2.28

$2.44 $2.44

-6.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.87 $6.87

$7.04 $7.04

-2.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.84 $8.84

$8.04 $8.04

9.95%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.25 $1.25

$0.94 $0.94

32.98%

White Bread (500g)

$3.72 $3.72

$3.52 $3.52

5.68%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$4.14 $4.14

30.19%

Eggs

$4.74 $4.74

$3.78 $3.78

25.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.84 $13.84

$15.08 $15.08

-8.22%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.40 $14.40

$13.26 $13.26

8.60%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.38 $18.38

$20.60 $20.60

-10.78%

Apples (1kg)

$5.22 $5.22

$4.85 $4.85

7.63%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.64 $1.64

20.73%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.06 $4.06

$5.26 $5.26

-22.81%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.97 $4.97

$4.78 $4.78

3.97%

Potato (1kg)

$2.67 $2.67

$2.89 $2.89

-7.61%

Onion (1kg)

$2.66 $2.66

$2.96 $2.96

-10.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.24 $2.24

$2.16 $2.16

3.70%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.13 $3.13

$2.33 $2.33

34.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.82 $13.82

$10.68 $10.68

29.40%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.88 $14.88

$15.63 $15.63

-4.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.54 $2.54

$2.63 $2.63

-3.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.51 $3.51

$4.34 $4.34

-19.12%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.03 $2.03

19.70%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$73.5 $73.5

$60.4 $60.4

21.72%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.18 $3.18

$4.11 $4.11

-22.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.39 $1.39

$1.95 $1.95

-28.72%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.03 $25.03

$44.44 $44.44

-43.68%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 $1.20

$1.01 $1.01

18.81%

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

$35.0K $35.0K

$30.8K $30.8K

13.74%

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

$26.7K $26.7K

$26.1K $26.1K

2.15%

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

$194 $194

$266 $266

-27.01%

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

$69.5 $69.5

$53.2 $53.2

30.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.6 $61.6

$82.5 $82.5

-25.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.90 $47.90

$40.68 $40.68

17.75%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.34 $27.34

Cinema Ticket

$17.81 $17.81

$14.98 $14.98

18.89%

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

$1,794 $1,794

$1,615 $1,615

11.10%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.9K $31.9K

$23.8K $23.8K

34.04%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.0 $67.0

$65.2 $65.2

2.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.1 $52.1

$51.5 $51.5

1.34%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 $102

$108 $108

-5.64%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$144 $144

$124 $124

16.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,526 $2,526

$1,572 $1,572

60.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,578 $1,578

$1,455 $1,455

8.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,738 $4,738

$2,917 $2,917

62.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,693 $2,693

$1,995 $1,995

35.01%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,190 $4,190

$2,512 $2,512

66.78%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,768 $2,768

$2,039 $2,039

35.75%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,931 $4,931

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.81

6.69

1.79%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 25, 2026

Last update for Spring Valley, IL: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52%

Spring Valley, IL

$1.5K 49.5% 7.8% $123

Groceries & Markets

Chicago, IL

$447 14.7%

Spring Valley, IL

$433 14.7% 3.2% $14

Eating Out

Chicago, IL

$345 11.4%

Spring Valley, IL

$337 11.5% 2.2% $7.5

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chicago, IL

$326 10.7%

Spring Valley, IL

$402 13.7% 23.5% $77

Clothing & Footwear

Chicago, IL

$164 5.4%

Spring Valley, IL

$157 5.3% 4.6% $7.5

Getting Around

Chicago, IL

$93 3.1%

Spring Valley, IL

$82 2.8% 11.8% $11

Sport & Entertainment

Chicago, IL

$84 2.8%

Spring Valley, IL

$71 2.4% 15.4% $13

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,526 in Chicago, IL versus $1,572 in Spring Valley, IL. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89 in Chicago, IL versus $68 in Spring Valley, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $447 vs $433 – making Spring Valley, IL the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 Spring Valley, IL

🕒 Local time

15:33 3:33 PM

Same time as Chicago, IL

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

2,746,388

33,066

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.898 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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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 Spring Valley, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,037 in Chicago, IL, $2,937 in Spring Valley, IL – Spring Valley, IL comes out roughly 3% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,555 per month in Chicago, IL and $4,405 in Spring Valley, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Spring Valley, IL, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,572 there versus $2,526 in Chicago, IL.

Groceries cost about 3% more in Chicago, IL, though the gap depends on what you buy.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89 in Chicago, IL and $68 in Spring Valley, IL. 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 $3,037 in Chicago, IL and $2,937 in Spring Valley, IL. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Spring Valley, IL – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

For expats, Spring Valley, IL is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and overall it costs about 3% less, which matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.