Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and St. Louis, MO Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and St. Louis, MO

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 21.5% more expensive than St. Louis, MO without rent, and 19.9% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 24.8% more expensive than St. Louis, MO without rent, and 24.4% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.53 $20.53

$19.04 $19.04

7.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.3 $99.3

$75 $75

32.51%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.22 $12.22

$10.82 $10.82

12.94%

Cappuccino

$5.75 $5.75

$5.17 $5.17

11.22%

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

$2.97 $2.97

$2.58 $2.58

15.12%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.37 $2.37

$1.98 $1.98

19.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.03 $7.03

$6.15 $6.15

14.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.3 $8.3

$7.19 $7.19

15.44%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$1 $1

5.00%

White Bread (500g)

$3.99 $3.99

$3.59 $3.59

11.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.48 $5.48

$4.22 $4.22

29.86%

Eggs

$4.71 $4.71

$4.03 $4.03

16.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.09 $14.09

$12.33 $12.33

14.27%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.15 $15.15

$11.44 $11.44

32.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.09 $19.09

$15.2 $15.2

25.59%

Apples (1kg)

$5.23 $5.23

$5.02 $5.02

4.18%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.61 $1.61

6.21%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.33 $4.33

$4.2 $4.2

3.10%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.4 $4.4

$4.73 $4.73

-6.98%

Potato (1kg)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.87 $2.87

-15.33%

Onion (1kg)

$2.84 $2.84

$2.88 $2.88

-1.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.38 $2.38

$2.04 $2.04

16.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.57 $2.57

$2.15 $2.15

19.53%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.21 $15.21

$9.49 $9.49

60.27%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.26 $15.26

$13.84 $13.84

10.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.45 $2.45

$1.78 $1.78

37.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.62 $3.62

$3.43 $3.43

5.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.05 $2.05

18.54%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$76.2 $76.2

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.19 $3.19

$3.53 $3.53

-9.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.44 $1.44

$1.64 $1.64

-12.20%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.54 $24.54

$28.97 $28.97

-15.29%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$0.83 $0.83

25.30%

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

$32K $32K

$30K $30K

6.77%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$25.4K $25.4K

4.10%

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

$186 $186

$189 $189

-1.29%

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

$62.7 $62.7

$53.2 $53.2

17.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66 $66

$67.4 $67.4

-2.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.1 $75.1

$43.31 $43.31

73.29%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.92 $12.92

Cinema Ticket

$14.95 $14.95

$13.77 $13.77

8.57%

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

$2,046 $2,046

$1,281 $1,281

59.79%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$38.7K $38.7K

$23.4K $23.4K

65.00%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.9 $64.9

$51.3 $51.3

26.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52 $52

$40.47 $40.47

28.59%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.6 $95.6

$87.2 $87.2

9.68%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$111 $111

28.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,330 $2,330

$1,633 $1,633

42.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,591 $1,591

$1,350 $1,350

17.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,654 $4,654

$2,631 $2,631

76.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,777 $2,777

$2,208 $2,208

25.76%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,674 $3,674

$2,818 $2,818

30.38%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,686 $2,686

$2,412 $2,412

11.38%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,293 $5,293

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.51

1.38%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: November 29, 2025

Last update for St. Louis, MO: November 29, 2025

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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