Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Valparaiso, IN Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Valparaiso, IN

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 30.7% more expensive than Valparaiso, IN without rent, and 40.5% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 46% more expensive than Valparaiso, IN without rent, and 54.7% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Valparaiso, IN
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$17.44 $17.44
19.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$49.33 $49.33
103.41%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$10.84 $10.84
10.42%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$4.09 $4.09
35.94%
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
$1.63 $1.63
48.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$4.53 $4.53
51.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$5.96 $5.96
41.78%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Valparaiso, IN
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$0.88 $0.88
18.18%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$3.43 $3.43
20.99%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$4.74 $4.74
16.46%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$3.32 $3.32
40.06%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$15.13 $15.13
-5.29%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$12.06 $12.06
23.38%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$14.75 $14.75
31.12%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$10.17 $10.17
-49.16%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.3 $1.3
31.54%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$6.48 $6.48
-31.94%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$5.83 $5.83
-22.64%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.18 $2.18
16.06%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$3.86 $3.86
-29.02%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.41 $2.41
0.83%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.72 $2.72
-0.74%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$8.83 $8.83
72.03%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$8.19 $8.19
100.49%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.78 $1.78
32.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$3.68 $3.68
0.54%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Valparaiso, IN
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$0.97 $0.97
160.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
$30.55 $30.55
142.65%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$4.75 $4.75
-29.68%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$2.14 $2.14
-33.64%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$28.12 $28.12
-9.60%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.69 $0.69
56.52%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$24.4K $24.4K
32.80%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$24.1K $24.1K
8.97%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Valparaiso, IN
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$118 $118
59.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$45.8 $45.8
39.08%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$61.8 $61.8
5.45%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Valparaiso, IN
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$15.08 $15.08
408.75%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$7.82 $7.82
90.92%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Valparaiso, IN
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$936 $936
120.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$21.4K $21.4K
83.08%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Valparaiso, IN
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$63.6 $63.6
1.10%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$39.45 $39.45
32.80%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$96.5 $96.5
-1.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$137 $137
5.64%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Valparaiso, IN
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,518 $1,518
56.60%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$981 $981
61.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$2,011 $2,011
136.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$1,491 $1,491
88.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$1,827 $1,827
96.41%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$1,844 $1,844
35.06%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Valparaiso, IN
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$4,225 $4,225
24.86%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.45
2.33%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Valparaiso, IN: October 29, 2025

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