Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Urbandale, IA Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Urbandale, IA

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 28.5% more expensive than Urbandale, IA without rent, and 26.8% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 61.1% more expensive than Urbandale, IA without rent, and 40.6% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$14.93 $14.93

39.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$49.35 $49.35

103.32%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$10.14 $10.14

18.05%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$5 $5

11.20%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$1.27 $1.27

144.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$0.95 $0.95

154.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$5.33 $5.33

28.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$7.08 $7.08

19.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.05 $1.05

-0.95%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$3.32 $3.32

25.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$4.02 $4.02

37.31%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$2.06 $2.06

125.73%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$14.17 $14.17

1.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$10.58 $10.58

40.64%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$12.95 $12.95

49.34%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$3.24 $3.24

59.57%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.51 $1.51

13.25%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$3.55 $3.55

24.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$3.31 $3.31

36.25%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$3.53 $3.53

-28.33%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$3.66 $3.66

-25.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.12 $2.12

14.62%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$2.31 $2.31

16.88%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$7.26 $7.26

109.23%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$12.02 $12.02

36.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.75 $1.75

34.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$1.95 $1.95

89.74%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.02 $2.02

25.25%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

$66 $66

12.30%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$2.56 $2.56

30.47%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$2.22 $2.22

-36.04%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$20.6 $20.6

23.40%

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

$36.5K $36.5K

-11.28%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$25.8K $25.8K

1.72%

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

$188 $188

$141 $141

33.55%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$14.74 $14.74

332.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$24.56 $24.56

165.47%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$43.6 $43.6

75.96%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

$20.4 $20.4

-36.13%

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$14.88 $14.88

0.34%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,390 $1,390

48.33%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$28.5K $28.5K

37.69%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$53.3 $53.3

20.63%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$21.84 $21.84

139.88%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$44.98 $44.98

111.67%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$75 $75

92.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$1,593 $1,593

49.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,360 $1,360

16.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$2,649 $2,649

79.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$2,251 $2,251

25.07%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$2,812 $2,812

27.57%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$2,566 $2,566

-2.96%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$3,670 $3,670

43.71%

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 Urbandale, IA: October 28, 2025

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