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 $3,066 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,217 in Twin Falls, ID, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,583 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,175 in Twin Falls, ID, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,100 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,132 in Twin Falls, ID, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 38% more than Twin Falls, ID, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chicago, IL and Twin Falls, ID sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 128%, Twin Falls, ID by 65%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.53 $20.53

$12.76 $12.76

60.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$102 $102

$44.60 $44.60

127.94%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.03 $12.03

$9.10 $9.10

32.20%

Cappuccino

$5.62 $5.62

$4.86 $4.86

15.64%

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

$3.07 $3.07

$1.54 $1.54

99.35%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.02 $1.02

137.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.98 $6.98

$3.95 $3.95

76.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.10 $8.10

$5.90 $5.90

37.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.75 $0.75

44.00%

White Bread (500g)

$3.95 $3.95

$3.43 $3.43

15.16%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$5.29 $5.29

4.35%

Eggs

$4.55 $4.55

$3.77 $3.77

20.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.58 $14.58

$9.84 $9.84

48.17%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.91 $14.91

$7.59 $7.59

96.44%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.83 $18.83

$12.33 $12.33

52.72%

Apples (1kg)

$5.34 $5.34

$4.47 $4.47

19.46%

Banana (1kg)

$1.76 $1.76

$1.67 $1.67

5.39%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.39 $4.39

$3.39 $3.39

29.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.37 $4.37

$3.74 $3.74

16.84%

Potato (1kg)

$2.55 $2.55

$2.51 $2.51

1.59%

Onion (1kg)

$2.78 $2.78

$2.09 $2.09

33.01%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.46 $2.46

$1.36 $1.36

80.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.66 $2.66

$2.01 $2.01

32.34%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.74 $14.74

$8.37 $8.37

76.11%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.17 $15.17

$14.73 $14.73

2.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.45 $2.45

$1.84 $1.84

33.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.68 $3.68

$2.51 $2.51

46.61%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.52 $2.52

$1.97 $1.97

27.92%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.5 $74.5

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.29 $3.29

$2.56 $2.56

28.52%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.43 $1.43

$1.48 $1.48

-3.38%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.86 $24.86

$23.92 $23.92

3.93%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.87 $0.87

25.29%

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

$31.3K $31.3K

$33.2K $33.2K

-5.66%

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

$26.8K $26.8K

$25.7K $25.7K

4.18%

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

$187 $187

$134 $134

39.38%

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

$62.4 $62.4

$36.87 $36.87

69.13%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.1 $67.1

$60.9 $60.9

10.28%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.2 $75.2

$14.37 $14.37

423.10%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.17 $13.17

Cinema Ticket

$15.21 $15.21

$11.94 $11.94

27.39%

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

$2,039 $2,039

$1,237 $1,237

64.77%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.3K $39.3K

$23.2K $23.2K

69.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.0 $64.0

$50.9 $50.9

25.58%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.6 $50.6

$33.49 $33.49

51.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.4 $95.4

$86.1 $86.1

10.87%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$144 $144

$99.7 $99.7

44.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,355 $2,355

$1,353 $1,353

73.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,613 $1,613

$1,239 $1,239

30.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,728 $4,728

$2,029 $2,029

133.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,754 $2,754

$2,094 $2,094

31.54%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,803 $3,803

$2,629 $2,629

44.63%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,580 $2,580

$2,555 $2,555

0.95%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,738 $4,738

$2,430 $2,430

94.99%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.58

0.30%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: April 14, 2026

Last update for Twin Falls, ID: April 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,355 in Chicago, IL versus $1,353 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 95% 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 $102 in Chicago, IL versus $45 in Twin Falls, ID. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $447 vs $332 – 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: $3,066 in Chicago, IL, $2,217 in Twin Falls, ID – roughly 38% apart. Chicago, IL costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,599 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,325 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 $102 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 35% 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 $2,217, than in Chicago, IL at $3,066. 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 $2,217 in Twin Falls, ID to $3,066 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.