Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Clinton, IA and Chicago, IL

For one person, living is cheaper in Clinton, IA: $2,439 a month against $3,037 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $7,200 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

118

Cost of Living Index in Clinton, IA
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Clinton, IA Living Index
147

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

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Clinton, IA

🇺🇸 United States

$2,439

/mo nomad

Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,037

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Clinton, IA and in Chicago, IL

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

A single person spends $2,439 per month in Clinton, IA vs $3,037 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Clinton, IA $2,439
Chicago, IL $3,037

A couple spends around $3,444 per month in Clinton, IA vs $4,518 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Clinton, IA $3,444
Chicago, IL $4,518

A family of three spends $4,448 per month in Clinton, IA vs $5,999 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Clinton, IA $4,448
Chicago, IL $5,999

Clinton, IA is about 20% cheaper than Chicago, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Clinton, IA and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – Clinton, IA by 79%, Chicago, IL by 123%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.93 $6.93

$20.71 $20.71

-66.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.4 $50.4

$89.2 $89.2

-43.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.79 $11.79

$13.19 $13.19

-10.61%

Cappuccino

$5.57 $5.57

$5.66 $5.66

-1.59%

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

$3.04 $3.04

$2.64 $2.64

15.15%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 $1.97

$2.28 $2.28

-13.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.08 $7.08

$6.87 $6.87

3.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.16 $8.16

$8.84 $8.84

-7.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.77 $0.77

$1.25 $1.25

-38.40%

White Bread (500g)

$2.26 $2.26

$3.72 $3.72

-39.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.19 $2.19

$5.39 $5.39

-59.37%

Eggs

$2.05 $2.05

$4.74 $4.74

-56.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.01 $13.01

$13.84 $13.84

-6.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.50 $6.50

$14.40 $14.40

-54.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.54 $19.54

$18.38 $18.38

6.31%

Apples (1kg)

$2.14 $2.14

$5.22 $5.22

-59.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.62 $1.62

$1.98 $1.98

-18.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.38 $3.38

$4.06 $4.06

-16.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.14 $2.14

$4.97 $4.97

-56.94%

Potato (1kg)

$1.07 $1.07

$2.67 $2.67

-59.93%

Onion (1kg)

$2.21 $2.21

$2.66 $2.66

-16.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.99 $1.99

$2.24 $2.24

-11.16%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.38 $2.38

$3.13 $3.13

-23.96%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.70 $10.70

$13.82 $13.82

-22.58%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.82 $15.82

$14.88 $14.88

6.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.67 $2.67

$2.54 $2.54

5.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.37 $4.37

$3.51 $3.51

24.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.75 $1.75

$2.43 $2.43

-27.98%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$52.6 $52.6

$73.5 $73.5

-28.45%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.96 $3.96

$3.18 $3.18

24.53%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.99 $1.99

$1.39 $1.39

43.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$44.59 $44.59

$25.03 $25.03

78.15%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 $0.99

$1.20 $1.20

-17.50%

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

$30.2K $30.2K

$35.0K $35.0K

-13.87%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$26.7K $26.7K

-2.98%

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

$250 $250

$194 $194

28.47%

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

$33.14 $33.14

$69.5 $69.5

-52.28%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$48.42 $48.42

$61.6 $61.6

-21.45%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.42 $39.42

$47.90 $47.90

-17.70%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.34 $27.34

Cinema Ticket

$10.16 $10.16

$17.81 $17.81

-42.95%

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

$1,647 $1,647

$1,794 $1,794

-8.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.3K $23.3K

$31.9K $31.9K

-27.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$65.1 $65.1

$67.0 $67.0

-2.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.5 $50.5

$52.1 $52.1

-3.15%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.8 $80.8

$102 $102

-20.44%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$123 $123

$144 $144

-14.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$677 $677

$2,526 $2,526

-73.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,281 $1,281

$1,578 $1,578

-18.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,492 $2,492

$4,738 $4,738

-47.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,088 $2,088

$2,693 $2,693

-22.46%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,211 $3,211

$4,190 $4,190

-23.36%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,460 $2,460

$2,768 $2,768

-11.13%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,581 $5,581

$4,931 $4,931

13.19%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.81

-11.89%

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

Last update for Clinton, IA: October 27, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Clinton, IA

$1.3K 52.5%

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52% 23.2% $297

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Clinton, IA

$331 13.6%

Chicago, IL

$326 10.7% 1.8% $5.8

Groceries & Markets

Clinton, IA

$320 13.1%

Chicago, IL

$447 14.7% 39.8% $127

Eating Out

Clinton, IA

$229 9.4%

Chicago, IL

$345 11.4% 50.4% $116

Clothing & Footwear

Clinton, IA

$144 5.9%

Chicago, IL

$164 5.4% 14.1% $20

Getting Around

Clinton, IA

$74 3%

Chicago, IL

$93 3.1% 27% $20

Sport & Entertainment

Clinton, IA

$60 2.5%

Chicago, IL

$84 2.8% 39.8% $24

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $677 in Clinton, IA versus $2,526 in Chicago, IL. 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 13% higher in Clinton, IA, 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 $50 in Clinton, IA versus $89 in Chicago, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $320 vs $447 – making Clinton, IA the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Clinton, IA

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🕒 Local time

15:36 3:36 PM

Same time as Clinton, IA

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

45,884

2,746,388

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.898 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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Between locations

Clinton, IA Chicago, IL 210 km

From you

Clinton, IA
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Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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

Clinton, IA vs Chicago, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,439 in Clinton, IA, $3,037 in Chicago, IL – Clinton, IA comes out roughly 20% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,658 per month in Clinton, IA and $4,555 in Chicago, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Clinton, IA, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $677 there versus $2,526 in Chicago, IL.

Groceries cost about 40% more in Chicago, IL, though the gap depends on what you buy.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $50 in Clinton, IA and $89 in Chicago, IL. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,439 in Clinton, IA and $3,037 in Chicago, IL. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Clinton, IA – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

For expats, Clinton, IA is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and overall it costs about 20% less, which matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.