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

🙂 Solo nomad: Elkhart, IN is 36% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 30.2% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Elkhart, IN is 35.4% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 25% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Elkhart, IN
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.92 $9.92
$20.82 $20.82
-52.35%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$40.41 $40.41
$100 $100
-59.73%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.03 $10.03
$11.97 $11.97
-16.21%
Cappuccino
$1.78 $1.78
$5.56 $5.56
-67.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.84 $2.84
$3.11 $3.11
-8.68%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56 $1.56
$2.42 $2.42
-35.54%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.73 $3.73
$6.86 $6.86
-45.63%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.45 $5.45
$8.45 $8.45
-35.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Elkhart, IN
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.93 $0.93
$1.04 $1.04
-10.58%
White Bread (500g)
$2.11 $2.11
$4.15 $4.15
-49.16%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.52 $2.52
$5.52 $5.52
-54.35%
Eggs
$4.17 $4.17
$4.65 $4.65
-10.32%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.08 $7.08
$14.33 $14.33
-50.59%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.25 $14.25
$14.88 $14.88
-4.23%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.16 $16.16
$19.34 $19.34
-16.44%
Apples (1kg)
$7.69 $7.69
$5.17 $5.17
48.74%
Banana (1kg)
$1.41 $1.41
$1.71 $1.71
-17.54%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.07 $2.07
$4.41 $4.41
-53.06%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.3 $2.3
$4.51 $4.51
-49.00%
Potato (1kg)
$2.81 $2.81
$2.53 $2.53
11.07%
Onion (1kg)
$2.41 $2.41
$2.74 $2.74
-12.04%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.54 $1.54
$2.43 $2.43
-36.63%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.11 $2.11
$2.7 $2.7
-21.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.6 $8.6
$15.19 $15.19
-43.38%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.05 $12.05
$16.42 $16.42
-26.61%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.84 $1.84
$2.35 $2.35
-21.70%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.41 $3.41
$3.7 $3.7
-7.84%
🚌 Getting Around
Elkhart, IN
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.95 $1.95
$2.53 $2.53
-22.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$24.79 $24.79
$74.1 $74.1
-66.56%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.54 $3.54
$3.34 $3.34
5.99%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.59 $1.59
$1.42 $1.42
11.97%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.25 $29.25
$25.42 $25.42
15.07%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.95 $0.95
$1.08 $1.08
-12.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.6K $29.6K
$32.4K $32.4K
-8.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.2K $25.2K
$26.2K $26.2K
-3.75%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Elkhart, IN
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$315 $315
$188 $188
67.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$53.3 $53.3
$63.7 $63.7
-16.41%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$88 $88
$65.2 $65.2
35.00%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Elkhart, IN
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.55 $43.55
$76.7 $76.7
-43.24%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.01 $5.01
$13.03 $13.03
-61.55%
Cinema Ticket
$11.15 $11.15
$14.93 $14.93
-25.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Elkhart, IN
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,309 $1,309
$2,063 $2,063
-36.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.5K $23.5K
$39.2K $39.2K
-39.96%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Elkhart, IN
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.07 $35.07
$64.3 $64.3
-45.47%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.48 $40.48
$52.4 $52.4
-22.73%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$66.7 $66.7
$95.2 $95.2
-29.95%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114 $114
$145 $145
-21.42%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Elkhart, IN
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$980 $980
$2,378 $2,378
-58.77%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$859 $859
$1,584 $1,584
-45.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,629 $2,629
$4,763 $4,763
-44.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,227 $2,227
$2,815 $2,815
-20.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,736 $6,736
$3,588 $3,588
87.75%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,288 $4,288
$2,490 $2,490
72.19%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Elkhart, IN
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,212 $3,212
$5,275 $5,275
-39.11%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.51
6.6
-1.36%

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

Last update for Elkhart, IN: October 27, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Similar cities

Join the CityCost newsletter – low traffic, no spam, and easy to unsubscribe. Your email stays private.