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

🙂 Solo nomad: Dubuque, IA is 31.9% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 38.7% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Dubuque, IA is 40.6% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 48.3% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.21 $15.21

$20.82 $20.82

-26.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.1 $50.1

$100 $100

-50.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.98 $9.98

$11.97 $11.97

-16.62%

Cappuccino

$4.66 $4.66

$5.56 $5.56

-16.19%

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

$2.05 $2.05

$3.11 $3.11

-34.08%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.96 $0.96

$2.42 $2.42

-60.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.03 $3.03

$6.86 $6.86

-55.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.42 $4.42

$8.45 $8.45

-47.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.82 $0.82

$1.04 $1.04

-21.15%

White Bread (500g)

$2.26 $2.26

$4.15 $4.15

-45.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.13 $3.13

$5.52 $5.52

-43.30%

Eggs

$2.88 $2.88

$4.65 $4.65

-38.06%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.7 $9.7

$14.33 $14.33

-32.31%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.09 $10.09

$14.88 $14.88

-32.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.08 $14.08

$19.34 $19.34

-27.20%

Apples (1kg)

$3.52 $3.52

$5.17 $5.17

-31.91%

Banana (1kg)

$1.13 $1.13

$1.71 $1.71

-33.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.74 $3.74

$4.41 $4.41

-15.19%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.48 $3.48

$4.51 $4.51

-22.84%

Potato (1kg)

$1.76 $1.76

$2.53 $2.53

-30.43%

Onion (1kg)

$2.12 $2.12

$2.74 $2.74

-22.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.97 $1.97

$2.43 $2.43

-18.93%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.06 $2.06

$2.7 $2.7

-23.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.61 $8.61

$15.19 $15.19

-43.32%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.38 $13.38

$16.42 $16.42

-18.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.88 $1.88

$2.35 $2.35

-20.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$3.7 $3.7

-27.03%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.38 $1.38

$2.53 $2.53

-45.45%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$45.73 $45.73

$74.1 $74.1

-38.31%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.82 $2.82

$3.34 $3.34

-15.57%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.56 $1.56

$1.42 $1.42

9.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$21.14 $21.14

$25.42 $25.42

-16.84%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.85 $0.85

$1.08 $1.08

-21.30%

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

$30.3K $30.3K

$32.4K $32.4K

-6.64%

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

$22.5K $22.5K

$26.2K $26.2K

-14.07%

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

$182 $182

$188 $188

-3.13%

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

$48.95 $48.95

$63.7 $63.7

-23.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.7 $62.7

$65.2 $65.2

-3.83%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.55 $37.55

$76.7 $76.7

-51.06%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$8.59 $8.59

$14.93 $14.93

-42.46%

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

$807 $807

$2,063 $2,063

-60.89%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24K $24K

$39.2K $39.2K

-38.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$43.85 $43.85

$64.3 $64.3

-31.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.59 $34.59

$52.4 $52.4

-33.98%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.2 $80.2

$95.2 $95.2

-15.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.1 $90.1

$145 $145

-37.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$972 $972

$2,378 $2,378

-59.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$741 $741

$1,584 $1,584

-53.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,418 $1,418

$4,763 $4,763

-70.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$985 $985

$2,815 $2,815

-64.99%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,709 $1,709

$3,588 $3,588

-52.37%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,683 $1,683

$2,490 $2,490

-32.42%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,046 $5,046

$5,275 $5,275

-4.34%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.88

6.6

-26.06%

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

Last update for Dubuque, IA: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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