Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and West Lafayette, IN Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and West Lafayette, IN

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 32.2% more expensive than West Lafayette, IN without rent, and 27.5% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 20.8% more expensive than West Lafayette, IN without rent, and 39.8% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chicago, IL
West Lafayette, IN
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$12.98 $12.98
60.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$70 $70
43.42%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$6.45 $6.45
85.58%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$4.44 $4.44
25.23%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$1.83 $1.83
69.95%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$2.39 $2.39
1.26%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$5.41 $5.41
26.80%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$3.6 $3.6
134.72%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
West Lafayette, IN
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$0.78 $0.78
33.33%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$1.99 $1.99
108.54%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$2.06 $2.06
167.96%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$4.08 $4.08
13.97%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$14.63 $14.63
-2.05%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$15.32 $15.32
-2.87%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$18.99 $18.99
1.84%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$4.03 $4.03
28.29%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.23 $1.23
39.02%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$2.16 $2.16
104.17%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$2.68 $2.68
68.28%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.48 $2.48
2.02%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$2.72 $2.72
0.74%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.39 $2.39
1.67%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.59 $2.59
4.25%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$14.81 $14.81
2.57%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$11.68 $11.68
40.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.68 $1.68
39.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$3.73 $3.73
-0.80%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chicago, IL
West Lafayette, IN
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$1.02 $1.02
148.04%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
$28.14 $28.14
163.43%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$3.33 $3.33
0.30%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$0.89 $0.89
59.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$24.81 $24.81
2.46%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.89 $0.89
21.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$31.4K $31.4K
3.30%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$26.8K $26.8K
-2.32%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
West Lafayette, IN
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$133 $133
41.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$53.5 $53.5
19.15%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$58.2 $58.2
12.05%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
West Lafayette, IN
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$39.89 $39.89
92.33%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
$12.52 $12.52
4.07%
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$8.03 $8.03
85.93%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
West Lafayette, IN
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,000 $1,000
106.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$39.1K $39.1K
0.30%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
West Lafayette, IN
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$44.6 $44.6
44.19%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$50.6 $50.6
3.48%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$94.3 $94.3
0.97%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$147 $147
-1.60%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
West Lafayette, IN
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,359 $1,359
74.93%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,245 $1,245
27.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$1,868 $1,868
154.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$1,988 $1,988
41.58%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$1,741 $1,741
106.12%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$1,715 $1,715
45.23%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
West Lafayette, IN
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$7,212 $7,212
-26.86%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.53
1.07%

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 West Lafayette, IN: October 28, 2025

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