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 58.3% more expensive than West Monroe, LA without rent, and 27.9% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 34.8% more expensive than West Monroe, LA without rent, and 40.2% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.10 $20.10

$14.80 $14.80

35.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$102 $102

$55.3 $55.3

83.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.02 $12.02

$10.13 $10.13

18.66%

Cappuccino

$5.62 $5.62

$6.15 $6.15

-8.62%

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

$3.01 $3.01

$1.97 $1.97

52.79%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.23 $1.23

91.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.98 $6.98

$4.86 $4.86

43.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$4.15 $4.15

103.61%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$1.22 $1.22

-10.66%

White Bread (500g)

$4.12 $4.12

$2.93 $2.93

40.61%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.57 $5.57

$2.29 $2.29

143.23%

Eggs

$4.51 $4.51

$2.98 $2.98

51.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.42 $14.42

$13.33 $13.33

8.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.02 $15.02

$11.08 $11.08

35.56%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.98 $18.98

$16.60 $16.60

14.34%

Apples (1kg)

$5.20 $5.20

$2.69 $2.69

93.31%

Banana (1kg)

$1.78 $1.78

$2.06 $2.06

-13.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.34 $4.34

$3.30 $3.30

31.52%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.53 $4.53

$1.29 $1.29

251.16%

Potato (1kg)

$2.55 $2.55

$2.24 $2.24

13.84%

Onion (1kg)

$2.71 $2.71

$1.28 $1.28

111.72%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.49 $2.49

$1.95 $1.95

27.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.63 $2.63

$1.78 $1.78

47.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.12 $15.12

$8.12 $8.12

86.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.91 $14.91

$11.94 $11.94

24.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$1.85 $1.85

33.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 $3.66

$2.75 $2.75

33.09%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.57 $2.57

$2.02 $2.02

27.23%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.3 $74.3

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.30 $3.30

$3.99 $3.99

-17.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.37 $1.37

$1.21 $1.21

13.22%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.96 $24.96

$60.5 $60.5

-58.76%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.06 $1.06

$0.74 $0.74

43.24%

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

$31.4K $31.4K

$36.7K $36.7K

-14.27%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$24.5K $24.5K

7.03%

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

$187 $187

$138 $138

35.07%

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

$63.0 $63.0

$43.85 $43.85

43.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.8 $65.8

$72.5 $72.5

-9.21%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.2 $75.2

$43.22 $43.22

74.06%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.95 $12.95

Cinema Ticket

$15.13 $15.13

$11.94 $11.94

26.72%

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

$2,067 $2,067

$1,301 $1,301

58.84%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$38.8K $38.8K

$9,826 $9,826

294.51%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.0 $64.0

$36.71 $36.71

74.20%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.8 $50.8

$41.72 $41.72

21.81%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.3 $97.3

$72.7 $72.7

33.74%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$144 $144

$78.9 $78.9

82.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,338 $2,338

$1,579 $1,579

48.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,614 $1,614

$1,353 $1,353

19.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,764 $4,764

$2,651 $2,651

79.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,762 $2,762

$2,228 $2,228

23.95%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,766 $3,766

$2,341 $2,341

60.85%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,614 $2,614

$2,182 $2,182

19.80%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,006 $5,006

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: March 3, 2026

Last update for West Monroe, LA: March 3, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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