Cost of Living Comparison Between Emporia, KS and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Emporia, KS and Chicago, IL

πŸ™‚ Solo nomad: Emporia, KS is 37% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 51.1% cheaper with rent.
πŸ™‚ Family of 3: Emporia, KS is 41.1% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 46.2% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Emporia, KS
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.43 $12.43
$20.82 $20.82
-40.30%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$56.7 $56.7
$100 $100
-43.47%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.33 $9.33
$11.97 $11.97
-22.06%
Cappuccino
$4.54 $4.54
$5.56 $5.56
-18.35%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12 $2.12
$3.11 $3.11
-31.83%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.53 $1.53
$2.42 $2.42
-36.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.97 $4.97
$6.86 $6.86
-27.55%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.85 $5.85
$8.45 $8.45
-30.77%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Emporia, KS
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.79 $0.79
$1.04 $1.04
-24.04%
White Bread (500g)
$3.15 $3.15
$4.15 $4.15
-24.10%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2 $2
$5.52 $5.52
-63.77%
Eggs
$2.83 $2.83
$4.65 $4.65
-39.14%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.34 $8.34
$14.33 $14.33
-41.80%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.94 $10.94
$14.88 $14.88
-26.48%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.97 $13.97
$19.34 $19.34
-27.77%
Apples (1kg)
$4.95 $4.95
$5.17 $5.17
-4.26%
Banana (1kg)
$1.16 $1.16
$1.71 $1.71
-32.16%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.82 $2.82
$4.41 $4.41
-36.05%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.84 $2.84
$4.51 $4.51
-37.03%
Potato (1kg)
$1.63 $1.63
$2.53 $2.53
-35.57%
Onion (1kg)
$2.75 $2.75
$2.74 $2.74
0.36%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.81 $1.81
$2.43 $2.43
-25.51%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.21 $2.21
$2.7 $2.7
-18.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.12 $10.12
$15.19 $15.19
-33.38%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.34 $9.34
$16.42 $16.42
-43.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.8 $1.8
$2.35 $2.35
-23.40%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.32 $3.32
$3.7 $3.7
-10.27%
🚌 Getting Around
Emporia, KS
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.04 $2.04
$2.53 $2.53
-19.37%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$74.1 $74.1
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.68 $6.68
$3.34 $3.34
100.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.26 $1.26
$1.42 $1.42
-11.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$34.34 $34.34
$25.42 $25.42
35.09%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.78 $0.78
$1.08 $1.08
-27.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.4K $30.4K
$32.4K $32.4K
-6.14%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.9K $24.9K
$26.2K $26.2K
-4.92%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Emporia, KS
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$111 $111
$188 $188
-40.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$49.55 $49.55
$63.7 $63.7
-22.21%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$50.5 $50.5
$65.2 $65.2
-22.59%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Emporia, KS
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.83 $45.83
$76.7 $76.7
-40.26%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.55 $12.55
$14.93 $14.93
-15.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Emporia, KS
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,073 $1,073
$2,063 $2,063
-47.96%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.3K $23.3K
$39.2K $39.2K
-40.54%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Emporia, KS
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$48.7 $48.7
$64.3 $64.3
-24.27%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.53 $24.53
$52.4 $52.4
-53.18%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.7 $85.7
$95.2 $95.2
-9.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.6 $85.6
$145 $145
-40.81%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Emporia, KS
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$637 $637
$2,378 $2,378
-73.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$490 $490
$1,584 $1,584
-69.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,109 $2,109
$4,763 $4,763
-55.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,134 $1,134
$2,815 $2,815
-59.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,128 $1,128
$3,588 $3,588
-68.55%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,094 $1,094
$2,490 $2,490
-56.08%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Emporia, KS
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,558 $5,558
$5,275 $5,275
5.37%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.54
6.6
-0.91%

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

Last update for Emporia, KS: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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