Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Thornton, CO Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Thornton, CO

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 21.1% more expensive than Thornton, CO without rent, and 14.3% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 31.2% more expensive than Thornton, CO without rent, and 12.5% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Thornton, CO
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$19.92 $19.92
4.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$86.1 $86.1
16.53%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$11.94 $11.94
0.25%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$5.47 $5.47
1.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$3.01 $3.01
3.32%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$2.29 $2.29
5.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$6.39 $6.39
7.36%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$7.34 $7.34
15.12%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Thornton, CO
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.03 $1.03
0.97%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$3.67 $3.67
13.08%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$5.67 $5.67
-2.65%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$5.65 $5.65
-17.70%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$14.49 $14.49
-1.10%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$12.87 $12.87
15.62%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$18.37 $18.37
5.28%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$4.45 $4.45
16.18%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.59 $1.59
7.55%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$3.67 $3.67
20.16%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$5.1 $5.1
-11.57%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.71 $2.71
-6.64%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$2.59 $2.59
5.79%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.03 $2.03
19.70%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.3 $2.3
17.39%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$10.01 $10.01
51.75%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$16.51 $16.51
-0.55%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$2.26 $2.26
3.98%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$3.62 $3.62
2.21%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Thornton, CO
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$1.99 $1.99
27.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$2.49 $2.49
34.14%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.44 $1.44
-1.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$23.91 $23.91
6.32%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.81 $0.81
33.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$31.9K $31.9K
1.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$26K $26K
0.78%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Thornton, CO
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$176 $176
7.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$73.2 $73.2
-12.93%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$66.4 $66.4
-1.81%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Thornton, CO
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$43.37 $43.37
76.90%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$15.15 $15.15
-1.45%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Thornton, CO
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,473 $1,473
39.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$16.3K $16.3K
139.88%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Thornton, CO
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$57.8 $57.8
11.22%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$37.86 $37.86
38.38%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$98.2 $98.2
-3.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$119 $119
21.43%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Thornton, CO
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,618 $1,618
46.97%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,378 $1,378
15.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$2,787 $2,787
70.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$2,566 $2,566
9.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$2,795 $2,795
28.37%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,493 $2,493
-0.12%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Thornton, CO
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$5,368 $5,368
-1.73%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.37
3.61%

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 Thornton, CO: October 27, 2025

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