Cost of Living Comparison Between Denver, CO and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Denver, CO and Chicago, IL

🙂 Solo nomad: Denver, CO is 1% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 6.4% more expensive with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Denver, CO is 3.8% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 1.5% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.92 $19.92

$20.82 $20.82

-4.32%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$85.2 $85.2

$100 $100

-15.06%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.18 $12.18

$11.97 $11.97

1.75%

Cappuccino

$5.29 $5.29

$5.56 $5.56

-4.86%

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

$2.98 $2.98

$3.11 $3.11

-4.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.31 $2.31

$2.42 $2.42

-4.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.15 $7.15

$6.86 $6.86

4.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.15 $8.15

$8.45 $8.45

-3.55%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.03 $1.03

$1.04 $1.04

-0.96%

White Bread (500g)

$4.26 $4.26

$4.15 $4.15

2.65%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.75 $5.75

$5.52 $5.52

4.17%

Eggs

$5.51 $5.51

$4.65 $4.65

18.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.22 $14.22

$14.33 $14.33

-0.77%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.01 $13.01

$14.88 $14.88

-12.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.96 $16.96

$19.34 $19.34

-12.31%

Apples (1kg)

$5.68 $5.68

$5.17 $5.17

9.86%

Banana (1kg)

$1.92 $1.92

$1.71 $1.71

12.28%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.14 $5.14

$4.41 $4.41

16.55%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.36 $5.36

$4.51 $4.51

18.85%

Potato (1kg)

$2.85 $2.85

$2.53 $2.53

12.65%

Onion (1kg)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.74 $2.74

-5.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.96 $1.96

$2.43 $2.43

-19.34%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.28 $2.28

$2.7 $2.7

-15.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.31 $10.31

$15.19 $15.19

-32.13%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.73 $16.73

$16.42 $16.42

1.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.51 $2.51

$2.35 $2.35

6.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 $3.67

$3.7 $3.7

-0.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.88 $2.88

$2.53 $2.53

13.83%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$86.8 $86.8

$74.1 $74.1

17.12%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.53 $3.53

$3.34 $3.34

5.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.79 $1.79

$1.42 $1.42

26.06%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.05 $24.05

$25.42 $25.42

-5.39%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.91 $0.91

$1.08 $1.08

-15.74%

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

$31.7K $31.7K

$32.4K $32.4K

-2.27%

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

$27.9K $27.9K

$26.2K $26.2K

6.48%

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

$173 $173

$188 $188

-8.31%

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

$72.3 $72.3

$63.7 $63.7

13.49%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$68.2 $68.2

$65.2 $65.2

4.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.7 $61.7

$76.7 $76.7

-19.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$38.25 $38.25

$13.03 $13.03

193.55%

Cinema Ticket

$15.2 $15.2

$14.93 $14.93

1.81%

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

$1,522 $1,522

$2,063 $2,063

-26.21%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.2K $16.2K

$39.2K $39.2K

-58.54%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.1 $59.1

$64.3 $64.3

-8.09%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.5 $45.5

$52.4 $52.4

-13.15%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.7 $98.7

$95.2 $95.2

3.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 $118

$145 $145

-18.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,177 $2,177

$2,378 $2,378

-8.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,709 $1,709

$1,584 $1,584

7.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,608 $3,608

$4,763 $4,763

-24.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,007 $3,007

$2,815 $2,815

6.82%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,997 $4,997

$3,588 $3,588

39.26%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,723 $3,723

$2,490 $2,490

49.51%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,950 $4,950

$5,275 $5,275

-6.16%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.37

6.6

-3.48%

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

Last update for Denver, CO: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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