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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,134 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,401 in West Lafayette, IN, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,618 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,557 in West Lafayette, IN, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,101 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,713 in West Lafayette, IN, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 31% more than West Lafayette, IN, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chicago, IL and West Lafayette, IN sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 129%, West Lafayette, IN by 75%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.56 $20.56

$12.02 $12.02

71.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$84.2 $84.2

$81.4 $81.4

3.50%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.56 $13.56

$6.49 $6.49

108.94%

Cappuccino

$5.78 $5.78

$4.47 $4.47

29.31%

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

$2.72 $2.72

$1.86 $1.86

46.24%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$2.36 $2.36

-0.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.98 $6.98

$5.41 $5.41

29.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.74 $8.74

$3.44 $3.44

154.07%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.30 $1.30

$0.63 $0.63

106.35%

White Bread (500g)

$3.92 $3.92

$4.11 $4.11

-4.62%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.70 $5.70

$1.93 $1.93

195.34%

Eggs

$4.75 $4.75

$4.23 $4.23

12.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.08 $14.08

$14.27 $14.27

-1.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.66 $14.66

$14.55 $14.55

0.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.96 $18.96

$19.17 $19.17

-1.10%

Apples (1kg)

$4.96 $4.96

$5.04 $5.04

-1.59%

Banana (1kg)

$2.03 $2.03

$1.60 $1.60

26.87%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.05 $4.05

$4.11 $4.11

-1.46%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.07 $5.07

$5.01 $5.01

1.20%

Potato (1kg)

$2.85 $2.85

$2.83 $2.83

0.71%

Onion (1kg)

$2.56 $2.56

$2.67 $2.67

-4.12%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.38 $2.38

3.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.96 $2.96

$2.89 $2.89

2.42%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$16.05 $16.05

$16.18 $16.18

-0.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.16 $15.16

$14.73 $14.73

2.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.55 $2.55

$1.75 $1.75

45.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.49 $3.49

$3.51 $3.51

-0.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.47 $2.47

$0.98 $0.98

152.04%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$76.1 $76.1

$27.59 $27.59

175.93%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.17 $3.17

$3.27 $3.27

-3.06%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.37 $1.37

$0.90 $0.90

52.22%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$19.82 $19.82

$20.10 $20.10

-1.39%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.89 $0.89

28.09%

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

$36.8K $36.8K

$36.3K $36.3K

1.50%

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

$25.4K $25.4K

$25.6K $25.6K

-0.64%

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

$192 $192

$163 $163

18.01%

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

$69.4 $69.4

$53.1 $53.1

30.80%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.4 $61.4

$60.6 $60.6

1.24%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.4 $61.4

$29.51 $29.51

108.07%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.37 $27.37

$12.64 $12.64

116.53%

Cinema Ticket

$17.87 $17.87

$13.27 $13.27

34.66%

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

$1,544 $1,544

$985 $985

56.77%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.7K $30.7K

$30.3K $30.3K

1.40%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.9 $62.9

$64.4 $64.4

-2.30%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.7 $52.7

$54.3 $54.3

-2.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.3 $98.3

$99.6 $99.6

-1.25%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$150 $150

$148 $148

1.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,444 $2,444

$1,399 $1,399

74.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,677 $1,677

$1,230 $1,230

36.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,667 $4,667

$2,330 $2,330

100.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,720 $2,720

$1,999 $1,999

36.10%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,117 $4,117

$1,792 $1,792

129.76%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,737 $2,737

$1,787 $1,787

53.19%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,809 $4,809

$8,822 $8,822

-45.49%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.38

6.13

4.08%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: August 15, 2026

Last update for West Lafayette, IN: August 17, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,444 in Chicago, IL versus $1,399 in West Lafayette, IN. 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 83% higher in West Lafayette, IN, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $84.0 in Chicago, IL versus $81.0 in West Lafayette, IN. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $454 vs $425 – making West Lafayette, IN 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 West Lafayette, IN: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,134 in Chicago, IL, $2,401 in West Lafayette, IN – roughly 31% apart. Chicago, IL costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,701 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,602 in West Lafayette, IN. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 7% 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 mid-range dinner for two costs $84.0 in Chicago, IL and $81.0 in West Lafayette, IN. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in West Lafayette, IN, where all-in costs run around $2,401, than in Chicago, IL at $3,134. In West Lafayette, IN 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 $2,401 in West Lafayette, IN to $3,134 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with West Lafayette, IN. 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.