Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between El Dorado, AR and Chicago, IL

For one person, living is cheaper in El Dorado, AR: $1,746 a month against $3,139 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $16,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

84

Cost of Living Index in El Dorado, AR
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El Dorado, AR Living Index
152

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

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El Dorado, AR

🇺🇸 United States

$1,746

/mo nomad

Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,139

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in El Dorado, AR 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 El Dorado, AR and in Chicago, IL actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,746 per month in El Dorado, AR vs $3,139 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

El Dorado, AR $1,746
Chicago, IL $3,139

A couple spends around $2,547 per month in El Dorado, AR vs $4,627 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

El Dorado, AR $2,547
Chicago, IL $4,627

A family of three spends $3,348 per month in El Dorado, AR vs $6,115 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

El Dorado, AR $3,348
Chicago, IL $6,115

El Dorado, AR is about 44% cheaper than Chicago, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both El Dorado, AR and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – El Dorado, AR by 29%, Chicago, IL by 132%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.29 $17.29

$20.65 $20.65

-16.27%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$59.0 $59.0

$90.2 $90.2

-34.60%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.86 $10.86

$12.94 $12.94

-16.07%

Cappuccino

$5.04 $5.04

$5.60 $5.60

-10.00%

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

$3.04 $3.04

$2.64 $2.64

15.15%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.41 $2.41

$2.27 $2.27

6.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.95 $4.95

$6.98 $6.98

-29.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.31 $6.31

$8.83 $8.83

-28.54%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 $1.10

$1.27 $1.27

-13.39%

White Bread (500g)

$2.70 $2.70

$3.80 $3.80

-28.95%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.80 $2.80

$5.30 $5.30

-47.17%

Eggs

$3.36 $3.36

$4.76 $4.76

-29.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.17 $10.17

$13.96 $13.96

-27.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.99 $11.99

$14.61 $14.61

-17.93%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$22.50 $22.50

$18.77 $18.77

19.87%

Apples (1kg)

$4.31 $4.31

$5.19 $5.19

-16.96%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 $1.45

$1.98 $1.98

-26.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.48 $4.48

$3.93 $3.93

13.99%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.76 $3.76

$4.96 $4.96

-24.19%

Potato (1kg)

$1.57 $1.57

$2.76 $2.76

-43.12%

Onion (1kg)

$2.51 $2.51

$2.76 $2.76

-9.06%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.92 $1.92

$2.22 $2.22

-13.51%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.84 $1.84

$2.98 $2.98

-38.26%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.36 $9.36

$14.02 $14.02

-33.24%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.55 $13.55

$15.28 $15.28

-11.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 $1.77

$2.58 $2.58

-31.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.69 $1.69

$3.50 $3.50

-51.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.81 $1.81

$2.47 $2.47

-26.72%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.8 $74.8

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.46 $2.46

$3.34 $3.34

-26.35%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.52 $1.52

$1.43 $1.43

6.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.11 $24.11

$24.32 $24.32

-0.86%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.92 $0.92

$1.26 $1.26

-26.98%

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

$26.7K $26.7K

$35.0K $35.0K

-23.66%

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

$26.3K $26.3K

$26.1K $26.1K

0.93%

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

$134 $134

$193 $193

-30.71%

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

$59.8 $59.8

$68.3 $68.3

-12.38%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$39.23 $39.23

$61.3 $61.3

-36.00%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.36 $42.36

$54.1 $54.1

-21.73%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.92 $27.92

Cinema Ticket

$9.09 $9.09

$17.74 $17.74

-48.76%

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

$1,036 $1,036

$1,652 $1,652

-37.31%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$19.1K $19.1K

$31.1K $31.1K

-38.44%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.9 $50.9

$66.1 $66.1

-22.99%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.32 $34.32

$51.2 $51.2

-33.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.1 $79.1

$100 $100

-21.03%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$61.0 $61.0

$141 $141

-56.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,537 $1,537

$2,446 $2,446

-37.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$678 $678

$1,678 $1,678

-59.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,892 $1,892

$4,717 $4,717

-59.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$941 $941

$2,795 $2,795

-66.34%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,185 $1,185

$4,105 $4,105

-71.13%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,146 $1,146

$2,650 $2,650

-56.76%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,169 $4,169

$4,866 $4,866

-14.32%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.75

6.81

-0.88%

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

Last update for El Dorado, AR: October 18, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

El Dorado, AR

$678 38.8%

Chicago, IL

$1.7K 53.5% 148% $1K

Groceries & Markets

El Dorado, AR

$366 21%

Chicago, IL

$449 14.3% 22.7% $83

Eating Out

El Dorado, AR

$291 16.6%

Chicago, IL

$343 10.9% 18.2% $53

Monthly Utilities & Internet

El Dorado, AR

$233 13.3%

Chicago, IL

$322 10.3% 38.6% $90

Clothing & Footwear

El Dorado, AR

$101 5.8%

Chicago, IL

$161 5.1% 59.1% $60

Sport & Entertainment

El Dorado, AR

$61 3.5%

Chicago, IL

$90 2.9% 48% $29

Getting Around

El Dorado, AR

$17 * 1%

Chicago, IL

$95 3% 451% $78

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,537 in El Dorado, AR versus $2,446 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 17% higher in Chicago, IL, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $59.0 in El Dorado, AR versus $90.0 in Chicago, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $366 vs $449 – making El Dorado, AR the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 El Dorado, AR

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🕒 Local time

05:20 5:20 AM

Same time as El Dorado, AR

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

17,756

2,746,388

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

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Highest

Between locations

El Dorado, AR Chicago, IL 1,060 km ≈ 1 h 45 min nonstop flight

From you

El Dorado, AR
Chicago, IL

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

El Dorado, AR vs Chicago, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,746 in El Dorado, AR, $3,139 in Chicago, IL – roughly 80% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,619 per month in El Dorado, AR and $4,708 in Chicago, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in El Dorado, AR, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $59.0 in El Dorado, AR and $90.0 in Chicago, IL. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 23% 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 $2,500 monthly budget goes further in El Dorado, AR, where all-in costs run around $1,746, than in Chicago, IL at $3,139. In El Dorado, AR it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chicago, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,746 in El Dorado, AR to $3,139 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with El Dorado, AR. 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.