Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Twin Falls, ID Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Twin Falls, ID

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,184 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,315 in Twin Falls, ID, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,725 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,297 in Twin Falls, ID, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,266 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,280 in Twin Falls, ID, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 38% more than Twin Falls, ID, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Chicago, IL and Twin Falls, ID sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 131%, Twin Falls, ID by 68%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.26 $20.26

$16.18 $16.18

25.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.8 $88.8

$44.62 $44.62

98.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.16 $13.16

$12.16 $12.16

8.22%

Cappuccino

$5.77 $5.77

$5.90 $5.90

-2.20%

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

$2.63 $2.63

$1.97 $1.97

33.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 $2.34

$2.01 $2.01

16.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.06 $7.06

$5.86 $5.86

20.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.18 $9.18

$6.48 $6.48

41.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.30 $1.30

$0.88 $0.88

47.73%

White Bread (500g)

$4.05 $4.05

$3.83 $3.83

5.74%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.69 $5.69

$6.03 $6.03

-5.64%

Eggs

$4.85 $4.85

$4.42 $4.42

9.73%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.08 $15.08

$11.49 $11.49

31.24%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.87 $14.87

$11.00 $11.00

35.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.28 $19.28

$14.52 $14.52

32.78%

Apples (1kg)

$5.68 $5.68

$4.63 $4.63

22.68%

Banana (1kg)

$1.93 $1.93

$1.84 $1.84

4.89%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.10 $4.10

$4.04 $4.04

1.49%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.11 $5.11

$5.02 $5.02

1.79%

Potato (1kg)

$2.92 $2.92

$2.89 $2.89

1.04%

Onion (1kg)

$2.77 $2.77

$2.72 $2.72

1.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.30 $2.30

$1.85 $1.85

24.32%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.04 $3.04

$2.45 $2.45

24.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.93 $15.93

$8.49 $8.49

87.63%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.06 $15.06

$15.08 $15.08

-0.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.12 $2.12

19.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.48 $3.48

$3.21 $3.21

8.41%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.03 $2.03

24.63%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.8 $74.8

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.28 $3.28

$2.55 $2.55

28.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.36 $1.36

$1.48 $1.48

-8.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.55 $22.55

$23.65 $23.65

-4.65%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 $1.22

$0.89 $0.89

37.08%

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

$36.1K $36.1K

$34.9K $34.9K

3.49%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$25.3K $25.3K

2.73%

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

$188 $188

$174 $174

8.47%

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

$69.0 $69.0

$60.9 $60.9

13.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.6 $63.6

$65.3 $65.3

-2.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.4 $63.4

$34.58 $34.58

83.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.11 $27.11

Cinema Ticket

$17.90 $17.90

$12.73 $12.73

40.61%

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

$1,526 $1,526

$967 $967

57.88%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.9K $31.9K

$24.2K $24.2K

31.88%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.1 $62.1

$47.17 $47.17

31.59%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$56.4 $56.4

$41.38 $41.38

36.25%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 $101

$88.8 $88.8

13.61%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$156 $156

$108 $108

44.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,342 $2,342

$1,383 $1,383

69.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,698 $1,698

$1,096 $1,096

54.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,576 $4,576

$2,071 $2,071

120.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,806 $2,806

$1,732 $1,732

62.00%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,130 $4,130

$3,541 $3,541

16.66%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,740 $2,740

$2,599 $2,599

5.39%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,891 $4,891

$2,395 $2,395

104.20%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.38

6.08

4.93%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: September 6, 2026

Last update for Twin Falls, ID: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,342 in Chicago, IL versus $1,383 in Twin Falls, ID. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 104% higher in Chicago, IL, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89.0 in Chicago, IL versus $45.00 in Twin Falls, ID. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $465 vs $395 – making Twin Falls, ID the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Chicago, IL vs Twin Falls, ID: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,184 in Chicago, IL, $2,315 in Twin Falls, ID – roughly 38% apart. Chicago, IL costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,776 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,472 in Twin Falls, ID. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Twin Falls, ID, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89.0 in Chicago, IL and $45.00 in Twin Falls, ID. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 18% more in Chicago, IL, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Twin Falls, ID, where all-in costs run around $2,315, than in Chicago, IL at $3,184. In Twin Falls, ID it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chicago, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,315 in Twin Falls, ID to $3,184 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Twin Falls, ID. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chicago, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.