Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Wichita, KS Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Wichita, KS

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 17.5% more expensive than Wichita, KS without rent, and 36.8% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 24.2% more expensive than Wichita, KS without rent, and 32.5% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Wichita, KS
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$20.07 $20.07
3.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$54.8 $54.8
83.24%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$9.88 $9.88
21.15%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$4.75 $4.75
17.05%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.47 $2.47
25.91%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$1.81 $1.81
33.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$5.64 $5.64
21.63%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$5.9 $5.9
43.22%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Wichita, KS
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$0.91 $0.91
14.29%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$3.77 $3.77
10.08%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$4.3 $4.3
28.37%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$3.84 $3.84
21.09%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$9.91 $9.91
44.60%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$10.36 $10.36
43.63%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$17.73 $17.73
9.08%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$5.58 $5.58
-7.35%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.64 $1.64
4.27%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$5.14 $5.14
-14.20%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$4.61 $4.61
-2.17%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.7 $2.7
-6.30%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$2.63 $2.63
4.18%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.01 $2.01
20.90%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$1.85 $1.85
45.95%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$9.48 $9.48
60.23%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$14.51 $14.51
13.16%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$2.18 $2.18
7.80%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$3.91 $3.91
-5.37%
🚌 Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Wichita, KS
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$1.72 $1.72
47.09%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
$54.5 $54.5
36.14%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$2.52 $2.52
32.54%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.53 $1.53
-7.19%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$26.06 $26.06
-2.46%
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
$27.7K $27.7K
17.14%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$24.6K $24.6K
6.78%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Wichita, KS
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$323 $323
-41.78%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$55.8 $55.8
14.18%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$74.4 $74.4
-12.33%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Wichita, KS
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$47.35 $47.35
62.03%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
$20.13 $20.13
-35.27%
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$12.79 $12.79
16.73%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Wichita, KS
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$924 $924
123.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$16K $16K
145.33%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Wichita, KS
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$45.06 $45.06
42.72%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$38.03 $38.03
37.76%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$109 $109
-12.94%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$112 $112
29.54%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Wichita, KS
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$996 $996
138.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$789 $789
100.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$1,932 $1,932
146.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$1,787 $1,787
57.48%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$1,544 $1,544
132.42%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$1,455 $1,455
71.19%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Wichita, KS
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$3,563 $3,563
48.03%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.52
1.23%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Wichita, KS: October 28, 2025

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