Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Topeka, KS Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Topeka, KS

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 36.7% more expensive than Topeka, KS without rent, and 59.6% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 37% more expensive than Topeka, KS without rent, and 51.7% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$13.65 $13.65

52.53%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$53.5 $53.5

87.73%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$10.19 $10.19

17.47%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$3.52 $3.52

57.95%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.17 $2.17

43.32%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.53 $1.53

58.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$5.09 $5.09

34.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$5.93 $5.93

42.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$0.78 $0.78

33.33%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$3.22 $3.22

28.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$2.2 $2.2

150.91%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$4.3 $4.3

8.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$8.96 $8.96

59.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$11.08 $11.08

34.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$12.96 $12.96

49.23%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$5.44 $5.44

-4.96%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.96 $1.96

-12.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$4.66 $4.66

-5.36%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$4.27 $4.27

5.62%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$3.75 $3.75

-32.53%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.54 $2.54

7.87%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.89 $1.89

28.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$1.02 $1.02

164.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$9.04 $9.04

68.03%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$11.97 $11.97

37.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.82 $1.82

29.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$1.65 $1.65

124.24%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$4.41 $4.41

-42.63%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

$49.7 $49.7

49.15%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$2.76 $2.76

21.01%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.4 $1.4

1.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$33.19 $33.19

-23.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.77 $0.77

40.26%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$23.9K $23.9K

35.57%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$25.2K $25.2K

4.23%

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

$188 $188

$112 $112

68.34%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$49.17 $49.17

29.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$63.4 $63.4

2.81%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$56.9 $56.9

34.79%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

$15.11 $15.11

-13.77%

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$12.3 $12.3

21.38%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$434 $434

375.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$23.2K $23.2K

69.24%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$22.09 $22.09

191.13%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$19.97 $19.97

162.34%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$71.4 $71.4

33.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$79.2 $79.2

82.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$773 $773

207.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$845 $845

87.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$1,897 $1,897

151.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$1,815 $1,815

55.05%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$1,156 $1,156

210.34%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$1,321 $1,321

88.57%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$3,458 $3,458

52.54%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.11

8.02%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Topeka, KS: October 29, 2025

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