Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and West Monroe, LA Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and West Monroe, LA

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 60.3% more expensive than West Monroe, LA without rent, and 26.5% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 34.3% more expensive than West Monroe, LA without rent, and 35.2% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chicago, IL
West Monroe, LA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$14.78 $14.78
40.87%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$55.1 $55.1
82.27%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$9.89 $9.89
21.03%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$6.02 $6.02
-7.64%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.02 $2.02
53.96%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$1.28 $1.28
89.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$4.96 $4.96
38.31%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$4.17 $4.17
102.64%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
West Monroe, LA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.21 $1.21
-14.05%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$3.06 $3.06
35.62%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$2.37 $2.37
132.91%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$3.1 $3.1
50.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$13.39 $13.39
7.02%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$11.31 $11.31
31.56%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$16.45 $16.45
17.57%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$2.7 $2.7
91.48%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.99 $1.99
-14.07%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$3.35 $3.35
31.64%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$1.3 $1.3
246.92%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.22 $2.22
13.96%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$1.33 $1.33
106.02%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.01 $2.01
20.90%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$1.87 $1.87
44.39%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$7.88 $7.88
92.77%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$17.84 $17.84
-7.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.86 $1.86
26.34%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$2.8 $2.8
32.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Chicago, IL
West Monroe, LA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.04 $2.04
24.02%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$3.98 $3.98
-16.08%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.26 $1.26
12.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$59.5 $59.5
-57.28%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.76 $0.76
42.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$37.4K $37.4K
-13.21%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$24.5K $24.5K
6.90%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
West Monroe, LA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$139 $139
35.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$44.59 $44.59
42.86%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$74.8 $74.8
-12.85%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
West Monroe, LA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$43.45 $43.45
76.57%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$12.17 $12.17
22.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
West Monroe, LA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,320 $1,320
56.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$10.2K $10.2K
284.57%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
West Monroe, LA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$36.46 $36.46
76.39%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$43.11 $43.11
21.53%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$73 $73
30.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$77.1 $77.1
87.53%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
West Monroe, LA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,603 $1,603
48.36%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,330 $1,330
19.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$2,581 $2,581
84.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$2,257 $2,257
24.73%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$2,998 $2,998
19.69%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,514 $2,514
-0.94%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
West Monroe, LA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.61
-0.15%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for West Monroe, LA: October 29, 2025

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