Cost of Living Comparison Between Columbia, KY and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Columbia, KY and Chicago, IL

🙂 Solo nomad: Columbia, KY is 23.9% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 13% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Columbia, KY is 20.7% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 19.3% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.76 $18.76

$20.82 $20.82

-9.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74 $74

$100 $100

-26.24%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.11 $11.11

$11.97 $11.97

-7.18%

Cappuccino

$5.21 $5.21

$5.56 $5.56

-6.29%

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

$2.55 $2.55

$3.11 $3.11

-18.01%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 $1.95

$2.42 $2.42

-19.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.99 $5.99

$6.86 $6.86

-12.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.8 $6.8

$8.45 $8.45

-19.53%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.99 $0.99

$1.04 $1.04

-4.81%

White Bread (500g)

$3.55 $3.55

$4.15 $4.15

-14.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.33 $4.33

$5.52 $5.52

-21.56%

Eggs

$4.23 $4.23

$4.65 $4.65

-9.03%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.34 $12.34

$14.33 $14.33

-13.89%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.67 $11.67

$14.88 $14.88

-21.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.23 $15.23

$19.34 $19.34

-21.25%

Apples (1kg)

$4.89 $4.89

$5.17 $5.17

-5.42%

Banana (1kg)

$1.63 $1.63

$1.71 $1.71

-4.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.22 $4.22

$4.41 $4.41

-4.31%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.75 $4.75

$4.51 $4.51

5.32%

Potato (1kg)

$2.86 $2.86

$2.53 $2.53

13.04%

Onion (1kg)

$2.87 $2.87

$2.74 $2.74

4.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.07 $2.07

$2.43 $2.43

-14.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.12 $2.12

$2.7 $2.7

-21.48%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.44 $9.44

$15.19 $15.19

-37.85%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.29 $12.29

$16.42 $16.42

-25.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 $1.77

$2.35 $2.35

-24.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.44 $3.44

$3.7 $3.7

-7.03%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.02 $2.02

$2.53 $2.53

-20.16%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.57 $3.57

$3.34 $3.34

6.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.59 $1.59

$1.42 $1.42

11.97%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.94 $28.94

$25.42 $25.42

13.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.9 $0.9

$1.08 $1.08

-16.67%

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

$29.8K $29.8K

$32.4K $32.4K

-8.00%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

$26.2K $26.2K

-2.89%

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

$186 $186

$188 $188

-1.30%

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

$53.5 $53.5

$63.7 $63.7

-16.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$68 $68

$65.2 $65.2

4.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.94 $42.94

$76.7 $76.7

-44.03%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$13.53 $13.53

$14.93 $14.93

-9.38%

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

$1,312 $1,312

$2,063 $2,063

-36.41%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.5K $23.5K

$39.2K $39.2K

-40.14%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.2 $51.2

$64.3 $64.3

-20.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.73 $39.73

$52.4 $52.4

-24.16%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.8 $87.8

$95.2 $95.2

-7.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$112 $112

$145 $145

-22.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,608 $1,608

$2,378 $2,378

-32.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,360 $1,360

$1,584 $1,584

-14.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,616 $2,616

$4,763 $4,763

-45.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,201 $2,201

$2,815 $2,815

-21.82%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,820 $2,820

$3,588 $3,588

-21.39%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,743 $2,743

$2,490 $2,490

10.13%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.51

6.6

-1.36%

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

Last update for Columbia, KY: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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