Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between East Chicago, IN and Chicago, IL

For one person, living is cheaper in East Chicago, IN: $2,605 a month against $3,037 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $5,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

126

Cost of Living Index in East Chicago, IN
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East Chicago, IN Living Index
147

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
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Chicago, IL Living Index

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East Chicago, IN

🇺🇸 United States

$2,605

/mo nomad

Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,037

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in East Chicago, IN and in Chicago, IL

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in East Chicago, IN and in Chicago, IL actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,605 per month in East Chicago, IN vs $3,037 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

East Chicago, IN $2,605
Chicago, IL $3,037

A couple spends around $3,819 per month in East Chicago, IN vs $4,518 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

East Chicago, IN $3,819
Chicago, IL $4,518

A family of three spends $5,034 per month in East Chicago, IN vs $5,999 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

East Chicago, IN $5,034
Chicago, IL $5,999

East Chicago, IN is about 14% cheaper than Chicago, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both East Chicago, IN and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – East Chicago, IN by 91%, Chicago, IL by 123%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$22.32 $22.32

$20.71 $20.71

7.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$65.1 $65.1

$89.2 $89.2

-27.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.87 $11.87

$13.19 $13.19

-10.01%

Cappuccino

$5.63 $5.63

$5.66 $5.66

-0.53%

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

$2.28 $2.28

$2.64 $2.64

-13.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 $2.05

$2.28 $2.28

-10.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.81 $6.81

$6.87 $6.87

-0.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.27 $6.27

$8.84 $8.84

-29.07%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.06 $1.06

$1.25 $1.25

-15.20%

White Bread (500g)

$3.05 $3.05

$3.72 $3.72

-18.01%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.75 $4.75

$5.39 $5.39

-11.87%

Eggs

$3.58 $3.58

$4.74 $4.74

-24.47%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.42 $13.42

$13.84 $13.84

-3.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.42 $12.42

$14.40 $14.40

-13.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.70 $18.70

$18.38 $18.38

1.74%

Apples (1kg)

$5.08 $5.08

$5.22 $5.22

-2.68%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 $1.55

$1.98 $1.98

-21.72%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.28 $4.28

$4.06 $4.06

5.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.13 $4.13

$4.97 $4.97

-16.90%

Potato (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$2.67 $2.67

4.49%

Onion (1kg)

$3.07 $3.07

$2.66 $2.66

15.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.23 $2.23

$2.24 $2.24

-0.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.23 $2.23

$3.13 $3.13

-28.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.24 $10.24

$13.82 $13.82

-25.90%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.19 $17.19

$14.88 $14.88

15.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.98 $1.98

$2.54 $2.54

-22.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.10 $3.10

$3.51 $3.51

-11.68%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.86 $1.86

$2.43 $2.43

-23.46%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$51.2 $51.2

$73.5 $73.5

-30.38%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.41 $3.41

$3.18 $3.18

7.23%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.56 $1.56

$1.39 $1.39

12.23%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.94 $28.94

$25.03 $25.03

15.62%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 $0.94

$1.20 $1.20

-21.67%

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

$28.8K $28.8K

$35.0K $35.0K

-17.75%

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

$24.9K $24.9K

$26.7K $26.7K

-6.58%

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

$199 $199

$194 $194

2.44%

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

$57.1 $57.1

$69.5 $69.5

-17.78%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.7 $69.7

$61.6 $61.6

13.08%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.38 $34.38

$47.90 $47.90

-28.23%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.34 $27.34

Cinema Ticket

$12.97 $12.97

$17.81 $17.81

-27.18%

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

$1,336 $1,336

$1,794 $1,794

-25.55%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.6K $21.6K

$31.9K $31.9K

-32.37%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 $55.8

$67.0 $67.0

-16.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.96 $37.96

$52.1 $52.1

-27.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.3 $91.3

$102 $102

-10.08%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 $108

$144 $144

-24.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,578 $1,578

$2,526 $2,526

-37.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,265 $1,265

$1,578 $1,578

-19.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,539 $2,539

$4,738 $4,738

-46.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,140 $2,140

$2,693 $2,693

-20.54%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,920 $2,920

$4,190 $4,190

-30.31%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,165 $2,165

$2,768 $2,768

-21.79%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,091 $4,091

$4,931 $4,931

-17.03%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.57

6.81

-3.52%

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

Last update for East Chicago, IN: October 24, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

East Chicago, IN

$1.3K 48.6%

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52% 24.7% $313

Groceries & Markets

East Chicago, IN

$406 15.6%

Chicago, IL

$447 14.7% 10.2% $41

Eating Out

East Chicago, IN

$346 13.3%

Chicago, IL

$345 11.4% 0.2% $0.7

Monthly Utilities & Internet

East Chicago, IN

$326 12.5%

Chicago, IL

$326 10.7% 0.1% $0.5

Clothing & Footwear

East Chicago, IN

$132 5.1%

Chicago, IL

$164 5.4% 24.3% $32

Getting Around

East Chicago, IN

$70 2.7%

Chicago, IL

$93 3.1% 33.7% $24

Sport & Entertainment

East Chicago, IN

$60 2.3%

Chicago, IL

$84 2.8% 38.5% $23

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,578 in East Chicago, IN versus $2,526 in Chicago, IL. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 21% higher in Chicago, IL. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $65 in East Chicago, IN versus $89 in Chicago, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $406 vs $447 – making East Chicago, IN the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 East Chicago, IN

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🕒 Local time

07:36 7:36 AM

Same time as East Chicago, IN

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

26,370

2,746,388

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.899 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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East Chicago, IN Chicago, IL 30 km

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East Chicago, IN
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Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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

East Chicago, IN vs Chicago, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,605 in East Chicago, IN, $3,037 in Chicago, IL – roughly 17% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,907 per month in East Chicago, IN and $4,555 in Chicago, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in East Chicago, IN, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,578 there versus $2,526 in Chicago, IL.

Groceries cost about 10% more in Chicago, IL, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $65 in East Chicago, IN and $89 in Chicago, IL. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,605 in East Chicago, IN and $3,037 in Chicago, IL. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward East Chicago, IN – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with East Chicago, IN. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chicago, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.