Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Elgin, IL: $1,057 a month against $3,037 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $23,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

51

Cost of Living Index in Elgin, IL
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Elgin, IL Living Index
147

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

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Elgin, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$1,057

/mo nomad

Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,037

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $1,057 per month in Elgin, IL vs $3,037 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Elgin, IL $1,057
Chicago, IL $3,037

A couple spends around $2,633 per month in Elgin, IL vs $4,518 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Elgin, IL $2,633
Chicago, IL $4,518

A family of three spends $4,209 per month in Elgin, IL vs $5,999 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Elgin, IL $4,209
Chicago, IL $5,999

Elgin, IL is about 65% cheaper than Chicago, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Elgin, IL sits 22% below the global median, while Chicago, IL is 123% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.39 $20.39

$20.71 $20.71

-1.55%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$59.1 $59.1

$89.2 $89.2

-33.80%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.94 $9.94

$13.19 $13.19

-24.64%

Cappuccino

$4.08 $4.08

$5.66 $5.66

-27.92%

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

$3.06 $3.06

$2.64 $2.64

15.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 $2.04

$2.28 $2.28

-10.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.98 $5.98

$6.87 $6.87

-12.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.88 $4.88

$8.84 $8.84

-44.80%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.87 $0.87

$1.25 $1.25

-30.40%

White Bread (500g)

$3.52 $3.52

$3.72 $3.72

-5.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.15 $4.15

$5.39 $5.39

-23.01%

Eggs

$3.64 $3.64

$4.74 $4.74

-23.21%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.13 $11.13

$13.84 $13.84

-19.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.06 $13.06

$14.40 $14.40

-9.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.98 $11.98

$18.38 $18.38

-34.82%

Apples (1kg)

$4.47 $4.47

$5.22 $5.22

-14.37%

Banana (1kg)

$1.33 $1.33

$1.98 $1.98

-32.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$4.06 $4.06

-37.68%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.04 $4.04

$4.97 $4.97

-18.71%

Potato (1kg)

$2.00 $2.00

$2.67 $2.67

-25.09%

Onion (1kg)

$2.01 $2.01

$2.66 $2.66

-24.44%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.78 $1.78

$2.24 $2.24

-20.54%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.40 $2.40

$3.13 $3.13

-23.32%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.58 $10.58

$13.82 $13.82

-23.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.75 $15.75

$14.88 $14.88

5.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.71 $2.71

$2.54 $2.54

6.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.54 $3.54

$3.51 $3.51

0.85%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.43 $2.43

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$73.5 $73.5

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.05 $4.05

$3.18 $3.18

27.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.04 $2.04

$1.39 $1.39

46.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$27.57 $27.57

$25.03 $25.03

10.15%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.20 $1.20

-13.33%

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

$31.2K $31.2K

$35.0K $35.0K

-11.03%

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

$25.8K $25.8K

$26.7K $26.7K

-3.32%

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

$98.8 $98.8

$194 $194

-49.19%

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

$53.3 $53.3

$69.5 $69.5

-23.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$49.92 $49.92

$61.6 $61.6

-19.01%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.90 $47.90

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.34 $27.34

Cinema Ticket

$15.10 $15.10

$17.81 $17.81

-15.22%

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

$1,656 $1,656

$1,794 $1,794

-7.67%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.4K $23.4K

$31.9K $31.9K

-26.63%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$40.64 $40.64

$67.0 $67.0

-39.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.3 $50.3

$52.1 $52.1

-3.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.6 $99.6

$102 $102

-1.91%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$120 $120

$144 $144

-16.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,526 $2,526

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,578 $1,578

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,162 $2,162

$4,738 $4,738

-54.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,820 $1,820

$2,693 $2,693

-32.41%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,201 $2,201

$4,190 $4,190

-47.47%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,268 $2,268

$2,768 $2,768

-18.05%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,966 $3,966

$4,931 $4,931

-19.55%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.69

6.81

-1.76%

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

Last update for Elgin, IL: October 25, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Groceries & Markets

Elgin, IL

$368 34.9%

Chicago, IL

$447 14.7% 21.4% $79

Eating Out

Elgin, IL

$302 28.6%

Chicago, IL

$345 11.4% 14.3% $43

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Elgin, IL

$202 19.1%

Chicago, IL

$326 10.7% 61.2% $124

Clothing & Footwear

Elgin, IL

$140 13.2%

Chicago, IL

$164 5.4% 17.3% $24

Sport & Entertainment

Elgin, IL

$30 * 2.9%

Chicago, IL

$84 2.8% 177% $53

Getting Around

Elgin, IL

$14 * 1.4%

Chicago, IL

$93 3.1% 555% $79

Accommodation & Living

Elgin, IL

- * 0%

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52%

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

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 24% 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 in Elgin, IL versus $89 in Chicago, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $368 vs $447 – making Elgin, IL the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Elgin, IL

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🕒 Local time

01:21 1:21 AM

Same time as Elgin, IL

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

112,603

2,746,388

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.897 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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Between locations

Elgin, IL Chicago, IL 57 km

From you

Elgin, IL
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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

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

Monthly costs with rent: $1,057 in Elgin, IL, $3,037 in Chicago, IL – Elgin, IL comes out roughly 65% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in transport.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,585 per month in Elgin, IL and $4,555 in Chicago, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $59 in Elgin, IL and $89 in Chicago, IL. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 21% more in Chicago, IL, though the gap depends on what you buy.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Elgin, IL, where all-in costs run around $1,057, than in Chicago, IL at $3,037. In Elgin, IL 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 $1,057 in Elgin, IL to $3,037 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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