Cost of Living Comparison Between Elgin, IL and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Elgin, IL and Chicago, IL

🙂 Solo nomad: Elgin, IL is 35.9% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 21.9% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Elgin, IL is 31.3% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 25.4% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.15 $15.15

$20.82 $20.82

-27.23%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$59.5 $59.5

$100 $100

-40.74%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.04 $10.04

$11.97 $11.97

-16.12%

Cappuccino

$4.04 $4.04

$5.56 $5.56

-27.34%

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

$2.63 $2.63

$3.11 $3.11

-15.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 $1.97

$2.42 $2.42

-18.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.12 $6.12

$6.86 $6.86

-10.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.89 $4.89

$8.45 $8.45

-42.13%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.74 $0.74

$1.04 $1.04

-28.85%

White Bread (500g)

$3.69 $3.69

$4.15 $4.15

-11.08%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.37 $5.37

$5.52 $5.52

-2.72%

Eggs

$3.95 $3.95

$4.65 $4.65

-15.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.06 $11.06

$14.33 $14.33

-22.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.21 $13.21

$14.88 $14.88

-11.22%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.81 $10.81

$19.34 $19.34

-44.11%

Apples (1kg)

$2.24 $2.24

$5.17 $5.17

-56.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.08 $1.08

$1.71 $1.71

-36.84%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 $1.63

$4.41 $4.41

-63.04%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.71 $2.71

$4.51 $4.51

-39.91%

Potato (1kg)

$2.66 $2.66

$2.53 $2.53

5.14%

Onion (1kg)

$2.92 $2.92

$2.74 $2.74

6.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.96 $1.96

$2.43 $2.43

-19.34%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.06 $2.06

$2.7 $2.7

-23.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.12 $10.12

$15.19 $15.19

-33.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.78 $11.78

$16.42 $16.42

-28.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.29 $2.29

$2.35 $2.35

-2.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.75 $4.75

$3.7 $3.7

28.38%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.03 $2.03

$2.53 $2.53

-19.76%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.37 $4.37

$3.34 $3.34

30.84%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.22 $2.22

$1.42 $1.42

56.34%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$27.82 $27.82

$25.42 $25.42

9.44%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.83 $0.83

$1.08 $1.08

-23.15%

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

$24.6K $24.6K

$32.4K $32.4K

-24.23%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

$26.2K $26.2K

-2.76%

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

$98.6 $98.6

$188 $188

-47.61%

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

$51.7 $51.7

$63.7 $63.7

-18.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$50.1 $50.1

$65.2 $65.2

-23.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.98 $42.98

$76.7 $76.7

-43.98%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$15.13 $15.13

$14.93 $14.93

1.34%

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

$1,654 $1,654

$2,063 $2,063

-19.80%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.5K $24.5K

$39.2K $39.2K

-37.45%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$40.7 $40.7

$64.3 $64.3

-36.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.51 $47.51

$52.4 $52.4

-9.31%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 $101

$95.2 $95.2

5.79%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$131 $131

$145 $145

-9.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,594 $1,594

$2,378 $2,378

-32.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,372 $1,372

$1,584 $1,584

-13.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,657 $2,657

$4,763 $4,763

-44.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,267 $2,267

$2,815 $2,815

-19.48%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,725 $2,725

$3,588 $3,588

-24.06%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,428 $2,428

$2,490 $2,490

-2.51%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.55

6.6

-0.76%

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

Last update for Elgin, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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