Cost of Living Comparison Between Colorado Springs, CO and Evanston, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Colorado Springs, CO and Evanston, IL

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,044 in Colorado Springs, CO versus $2,524 in Evanston, IL.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,227 in Colorado Springs, CO versus $4,366 in Evanston, IL.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,410 in Colorado Springs, CO versus $6,208 in Evanston, IL.

Living in Colorado Springs, CO is roughly 21% more expensive than Evanston, IL, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Colorado Springs, CO 127% above, Evanston, IL 88% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.21 $20.21

$20.36 $20.36

-0.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$86.5 $86.5

$78.7 $78.7

9.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.96 $9.96

$11.93 $11.93

-16.51%

Cappuccino

$6.12 $6.12

$5.41 $5.41

13.12%

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

$3.30 $3.30

$2.73 $2.73

20.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 $2.34

$2.28 $2.28

2.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.09 $6.09

$7.13 $7.13

-14.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.98 $6.98

$6.97 $6.97

0.14%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.00 $1.00

$1.09 $1.09

-8.26%

White Bread (500g)

$3.62 $3.62

$3.72 $3.72

-2.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.38 $4.38

$5.35 $5.35

-18.13%

Eggs

$5.66 $5.66

$4.71 $4.71

20.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.17 $15.17

$13.68 $13.68

10.89%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.72 $14.72

$13.27 $13.27

10.93%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.57 $18.57

$19.14 $19.14

-2.98%

Apples (1kg)

$4.56 $4.56

$4.50 $4.50

1.33%

Banana (1kg)

$1.53 $1.53

$1.69 $1.69

-9.47%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.84 $3.84

$4.32 $4.32

-11.11%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.87 $4.87

$4.50 $4.50

8.22%

Potato (1kg)

$2.64 $2.64

$2.55 $2.55

3.53%

Onion (1kg)

$2.61 $2.61

$2.87 $2.87

-9.06%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.27 $2.27

$1.95 $1.95

16.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.31 $2.31

$1.98 $1.98

16.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.86 $9.86

$10.12 $10.12

-2.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.71 $18.71

$15.02 $15.02

24.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.26 $2.26

$2.40 $2.40

-5.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.84 $3.84

$3.60 $3.60

6.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.36 $2.36

$2.81 $2.81

-16.01%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$61.8 $61.8

$73.7 $73.7

-16.21%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.52 $2.52

$4.41 $4.41

-42.86%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.37 $1.37

$1.44 $1.44

-4.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.05 $25.05

$42.76 $42.76

-41.42%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.79 $0.79

$0.84 $0.84

-5.95%

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

$27.3K $27.3K

$29.6K $29.6K

-7.73%

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

$25.3K $25.3K

$25.4K $25.4K

-0.11%

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

$192 $192

$187 $187

3.03%

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

$73.7 $73.7

$61.7 $61.7

19.41%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$100 $100

$76.1 $76.1

31.62%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.2 $60.2

$75.3 $75.3

-20.12%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$30.27 $30.27

$61.0 $61.0

-50.36%

Cinema Ticket

$14.76 $14.76

$15.05 $15.05

-1.93%

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

$1,479 $1,479

$1,658 $1,658

-10.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.6K $24.6K

$35.6K $35.6K

-31.04%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.8 $57.8

$63.0 $63.0

-8.30%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.99 $36.99

$48.80 $48.80

-24.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.4 $91.4

$99.9 $99.9

-8.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$99.2 $99.2

$132 $132

-25.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,741 $1,741

$1,627 $1,627

7.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,593 $1,593

$1,107 $1,107

43.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,548 $2,548

$3,938 $3,938

-35.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,310 $2,310

$2,942 $2,942

-21.48%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,604 $2,604

$14.4K $14.4K

-81.89%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,464 $2,464

$12.9K $12.9K

-80.92%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,246 $4,246

$5,564 $5,564

-23.68%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

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

Last update for Colorado Springs, CO: June 1, 2026

Last update for Evanston, IL: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,741 in Colorado Springs, CO and $1,627 in Evanston, IL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Evanston, IL pays 31% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $87.0 in Colorado Springs, CO vs $79.0 in Evanston, IL for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $439 vs $420 per month, with Evanston, IL cheaper across the board.

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

Colorado Springs, CO vs Evanston, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Evanston, IL is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 21% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Evanston, IL earns 31% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,741 in Colorado Springs, CO versus $1,627 in Evanston, IL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 5% higher in Colorado Springs, CO. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Evanston, IL – a meal for two runs $79.0 versus $87.0 in Colorado Springs, CO. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Evanston, IL is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Colorado Springs, CO and Evanston, IL are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Evanston, IL gentler on the wallet – expenses run 21% less than in Colorado Springs, CO. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.