Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Tuscaloosa, AL Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Tuscaloosa, AL

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 16.8% more expensive than Tuscaloosa, AL without rent, and 45.7% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 30.3% more expensive than Tuscaloosa, AL without rent, and 36.2% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$16.52 $16.52

26.03%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$63.5 $63.5

58.12%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$9.95 $9.95

20.30%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$5.19 $5.19

7.13%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.5 $2.5

24.40%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.61 $1.61

50.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$4.95 $4.95

38.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$6.41 $6.41

31.83%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.12 $1.12

-7.14%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$3.56 $3.56

16.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$7.77 $7.77

-28.96%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$3.69 $3.69

26.02%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$12.44 $12.44

15.19%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$14.38 $14.38

3.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$19.27 $19.27

0.36%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$6.56 $6.56

-21.19%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$2.03 $2.03

-15.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$11.12 $11.12

-60.34%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$6.13 $6.13

-26.43%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.79 $1.79

41.34%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$4.09 $4.09

-33.01%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.5 $2.5

-2.80%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$2.1 $2.1

28.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$8.65 $8.65

75.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$15.63 $15.63

5.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.76 $1.76

33.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$4.87 $4.87

-24.02%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.95 $1.95

29.74%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$3.47 $3.47

-3.75%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.48 $1.48

-4.05%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$29.3 $29.3

-13.24%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.76 $0.76

42.11%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$29.2K $29.2K

11.17%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$25.4K $25.4K

3.07%

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

$188 $188

$183 $183

2.94%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$53.4 $53.4

19.27%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$72.4 $72.4

-9.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$58.7 $58.7

30.61%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

$39.42 $39.42

-66.95%

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$14.76 $14.76

1.15%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,288 $1,288

60.17%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$23.5K $23.5K

67.01%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$44.16 $44.16

45.63%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$31.03 $31.03

68.84%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$56.2 $56.2

69.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$68.6 $68.6

110.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$1,110 $1,110

114.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$774 $774

104.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$2,996 $2,996

58.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$1,821 $1,821

54.56%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$1,800 $1,800

99.35%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$1,840 $1,840

35.37%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$3,745 $3,745

40.86%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.5

1.54%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Tuscaloosa, AL: October 28, 2025

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