Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Stillwater, MN Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Stillwater, MN

๐Ÿ™‚ Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 7% cheaper than Stillwater, MN without rent, and 1.3% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 12.2% more expensive than Stillwater, MN without rent, and 18.8% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Stillwater, MN
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$18.32 $18.32
13.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$80.1 $80.1
25.32%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$12.08 $12.08
-0.91%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$5.79 $5.79
-3.97%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.02 $2.02
53.96%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$2.24 $2.24
8.04%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$6.19 $6.19
10.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$7.03 $7.03
20.20%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Stillwater, MN
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$0.91 $0.91
14.29%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$3.63 $3.63
14.33%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$5.5 $5.5
0.36%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$3.65 $3.65
27.40%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$11.4 $11.4
25.70%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$14.43 $14.43
3.12%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$16.77 $16.77
15.32%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$6.51 $6.51
-20.58%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.86 $1.86
-8.06%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$6.85 $6.85
-35.62%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$5.44 $5.44
-17.10%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$3.02 $3.02
-16.23%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$3.77 $3.77
-27.32%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.49 $2.49
-2.41%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.33 $2.33
15.88%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$7.71 $7.71
97.02%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$16.08 $16.08
2.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$2.15 $2.15
9.30%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$4.9 $4.9
-24.49%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Stillwater, MN
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.03 $2.03
24.63%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
$81.7 $81.7
-9.24%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$4.72 $4.72
-29.24%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.67 $1.67
-14.97%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$23.61 $23.61
7.67%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.87 $0.87
24.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$30.6K $30.6K
5.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$22K $22K
19.30%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Stillwater, MN
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$132 $132
42.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$52.3 $52.3
21.73%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$69.2 $69.2
-5.79%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Stillwater, MN
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$111 $111
-31.11%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$14.73 $14.73
1.36%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Stillwater, MN
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,610 $1,610
28.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$26.8K $26.8K
46.30%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Stillwater, MN
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$61.6 $61.6
4.37%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$44.21 $44.21
18.50%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$88 $88
8.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$49.05 $49.05
194.92%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Stillwater, MN
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,460 $1,460
62.91%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,608 $1,608
-1.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$2,162 $2,162
120.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$2,260 $2,260
24.57%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$3,009 $3,009
19.25%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,890 $2,890
-13.82%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Stillwater, MN
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$5,891 $5,891
-10.46%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.51
1.38%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Stillwater, MN: October 28, 2025

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