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

🙂 Solo nomad: Columbia, MO is 33.7% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 38% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Columbia, MO is 33.1% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 38.9% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.16 $17.16

$20.82 $20.82

-17.58%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$61 $61

$100 $100

-39.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.83 $12.83

$11.97 $11.97

7.18%

Cappuccino

$4.89 $4.89

$5.56 $5.56

-12.05%

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

$2.6 $2.6

$3.11 $3.11

-16.40%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 $2.04

$2.42 $2.42

-15.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.06 $4.06

$6.86 $6.86

-40.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.95 $4.95

$8.45 $8.45

-41.42%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.1 $1.1

$1.04 $1.04

5.77%

White Bread (500g)

$3.22 $3.22

$4.15 $4.15

-22.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.08 $2.08

$5.52 $5.52

-62.32%

Eggs

$2.98 $2.98

$4.65 $4.65

-35.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.46 $9.46

$14.33 $14.33

-33.98%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.09 $9.09

$14.88 $14.88

-38.91%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.21 $14.21

$19.34 $19.34

-26.53%

Apples (1kg)

$4.12 $4.12

$5.17 $5.17

-20.31%

Banana (1kg)

$1.28 $1.28

$1.71 $1.71

-25.15%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.16 $3.16

$4.41 $4.41

-28.34%

Tomato (1kg)

$4 $4

$4.51 $4.51

-11.31%

Potato (1kg)

$1.61 $1.61

$2.53 $2.53

-36.36%

Onion (1kg)

$2.46 $2.46

$2.74 $2.74

-10.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.67 $1.67

$2.43 $2.43

-31.28%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.95 $1.95

$2.7 $2.7

-27.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.88 $6.88

$15.19 $15.19

-54.71%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.05 $12.05

$16.42 $16.42

-26.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.74 $1.74

$2.35 $2.35

-25.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.53 $3.53

$3.7 $3.7

-4.59%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.04 $2.04

$2.53 $2.53

-19.37%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.05 $3.05

$3.34 $3.34

-8.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.02 $1.02

$1.42 $1.42

-28.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.51 $22.51

$25.42 $25.42

-11.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.8 $0.8

$1.08 $1.08

-25.93%

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

$29.6K $29.6K

$32.4K $32.4K

-8.65%

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

$25.4K $25.4K

$26.2K $26.2K

-3.10%

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

$186 $186

$188 $188

-1.37%

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

$51.7 $51.7

$63.7 $63.7

-18.87%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$60.9 $60.9

$65.2 $65.2

-6.55%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.39 $28.39

$76.7 $76.7

-63.00%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.52 $16.52

$13.03 $13.03

26.78%

Cinema Ticket

$12.17 $12.17

$14.93 $14.93

-18.49%

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

$1,212 $1,212

$2,063 $2,063

-41.22%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.9K $12.9K

$39.2K $39.2K

-67.08%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.3 $53.3

$64.3 $64.3

-17.09%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.21 $33.21

$52.4 $52.4

-36.61%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.1 $69.1

$95.2 $95.2

-27.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$89.1 $89.1

$145 $145

-38.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$925 $925

$2,378 $2,378

-61.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$778 $778

$1,584 $1,584

-50.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,810 $1,810

$4,763 $4,763

-62.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,434 $1,434

$2,815 $2,815

-49.05%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,992 $1,992

$3,588 $3,588

-44.49%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,937 $1,937

$2,490 $2,490

-22.23%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,880 $3,880

$5,275 $5,275

-26.45%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.35

6.6

-3.79%

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

Last update for Columbia, MO: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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