Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in West Lafayette, IN: $2,383 a month against $3,139 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $9,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

152

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
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Chicago, IL Living Index
115

Cost of Living Index in West Lafayette, IN
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West Lafayette, IN Living Index

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Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,139

/mo nomad

West Lafayette, IN

🇺🇸 United States

$2,383

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chicago, IL and in West Lafayette, IN

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chicago, IL and in West Lafayette, IN actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,139 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,383 in West Lafayette, IN, rent included.

Chicago, IL $3,139
West Lafayette, IN $2,383

A couple spends around $4,627 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,422 in West Lafayette, IN, rent included.

Chicago, IL $4,627
West Lafayette, IN $3,422

A family of three spends $6,115 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,461 in West Lafayette, IN, rent included.

Chicago, IL $6,115
West Lafayette, IN $4,461

Chicago, IL costs about 32% more than West Lafayette, IN, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Chicago, IL and West Lafayette, IN sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 132%, West Lafayette, IN by 76%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.65 $20.65

$11.77 $11.77

75.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$90.2 $90.2

$64.1 $64.1

40.87%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.94 $12.94

$6.31 $6.31

105.07%

Cappuccino

$5.60 $5.60

$4.43 $4.43

26.41%

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

$2.64 $2.64

$1.84 $1.84

43.48%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.27 $2.27

$1.51 $1.51

50.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.98 $6.98

$5.12 $5.12

36.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.83 $8.83

$3.49 $3.49

153.01%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 $1.27

$0.67 $0.67

89.55%

White Bread (500g)

$3.80 $3.80

$3.20 $3.20

18.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.30 $5.30

$1.95 $1.95

171.79%

Eggs

$4.76 $4.76

$3.78 $3.78

25.93%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.96 $13.96

$22.14 $22.14

-36.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.61 $14.61

$5.91 $5.91

147.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.77 $18.77

$27.81 $27.81

-32.51%

Apples (1kg)

$5.19 $5.19

$4.35 $4.35

19.31%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.23 $1.23

60.98%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.93 $3.93

$3.25 $3.25

20.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.96 $4.96

$5.18 $5.18

-4.25%

Potato (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$3.41 $3.41

-19.06%

Onion (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$3.34 $3.34

-17.37%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.22 $2.22

$1.99 $1.99

11.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.98 $2.98

$2.29 $2.29

30.13%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.02 $14.02

$11.24 $11.24

24.73%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.28 $15.28

$10.79 $10.79

41.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$1.70 $1.70

51.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.50 $3.50

$5.14 $5.14

-31.91%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.47 $2.47

$0.98 $0.98

152.04%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.8 $74.8

$27.77 $27.77

169.21%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$5.36 $5.36

-37.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.43 $1.43

$0.97 $0.97

47.42%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.32 $24.32

$17.74 $17.74

37.09%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 $1.26

$0.89 $0.89

41.57%

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

$35.0K $35.0K

$27.8K $27.8K

26.09%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$27.0K $27.0K

-3.35%

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

$193 $193

$160 $160

20.35%

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

$68.3 $68.3

$54.3 $54.3

25.62%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.3 $61.3

$62.9 $62.9

-2.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.1 $54.1

$29.52 $29.52

83.33%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.92 $27.92

$12.33 $12.33

126.44%

Cinema Ticket

$17.74 $17.74

$13.52 $13.52

31.21%

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

$1,652 $1,652

$983 $983

67.96%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.1K $31.1K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.1 $66.1

$75.7 $75.7

-12.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.2 $51.2

$43.03 $43.03

19.08%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100 $100

$66.8 $66.8

49.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$141 $141

$91.7 $91.7

53.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,446 $2,446

$1,428 $1,428

71.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,678 $1,678

$1,268 $1,268

32.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,717 $4,717

$2,372 $2,372

98.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,795 $2,795

$1,956 $1,956

42.93%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,105 $4,105

$1,853 $1,853

121.60%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,650 $2,650

$1,846 $1,846

43.52%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,866 $4,866

$8,638 $8,638

-43.67%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.81

6.49

4.93%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 19, 2026

Last update for West Lafayette, IN: October 18, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Chicago, IL

$1.7K 53.5%

West Lafayette, IN

$1.3K 53.2% 24.4% $409

Groceries & Markets

Chicago, IL

$449 14.3%

West Lafayette, IN

$402 16.9% 10.6% $48

Eating Out

Chicago, IL

$343 10.9%

West Lafayette, IN

$212 8.9% 38.2% $131

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chicago, IL

$322 10.3%

West Lafayette, IN

$277 11.6% 13.9% $45

Clothing & Footwear

Chicago, IL

$161 5.1%

West Lafayette, IN

$125 5.2% 22.6% $37

Getting Around

Chicago, IL

$95 3%

West Lafayette, IN

$42 1.8% 56% $53

Sport & Entertainment

Chicago, IL

$90 2.9%

West Lafayette, IN

$57 2.4% 36.9% $33

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,446 in Chicago, IL versus $1,428 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 78% 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 $90.0 in Chicago, IL versus $64.0 in West Lafayette, IN. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $449 vs $402 – making West Lafayette, IN the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 West Lafayette, IN

🕒 Local time

06:41 6:41 AM

07:41 7:41 AM

1 h ahead of Chicago, IL

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

2,746,388

28,997

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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Between locations

Chicago, IL West Lafayette, IN 170 km

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Chicago, IL
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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: $3,139 in Chicago, IL, $2,383 in West Lafayette, IN – roughly 32% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in eating out.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,708 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,574 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 12% 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 $90.0 in Chicago, IL and $64.0 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 $2,383, than in Chicago, IL at $3,139. 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 $2,383 in West Lafayette, IN to $3,139 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.