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

๐Ÿ™‚ Solo nomad: Evanston, IL is 8.5% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 14.7% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ™‚ Family of 3: Evanston, IL is 9% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 1.7% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Evanston, IL
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.2 $20.2
$20.82 $20.82
-2.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$80.6 $80.6
$100 $100
-19.65%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.05 $12.05
$11.97 $11.97
0.67%
Cappuccino
$5.31 $5.31
$5.56 $5.56
-4.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.66 $2.66
$3.11 $3.11
-14.47%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25 $2.25
$2.42 $2.42
-7.02%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.17 $7.17
$6.86 $6.86
4.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.91 $6.91
$8.45 $8.45
-18.22%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Evanston, IL
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 $1.09
$1.04 $1.04
4.81%
White Bread (500g)
$3.83 $3.83
$4.15 $4.15
-7.71%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.29 $5.29
$5.52 $5.52
-4.17%
Eggs
$4.5 $4.5
$4.65 $4.65
-3.23%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.9 $13.9
$14.33 $14.33
-3.00%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.23 $13.23
$14.88 $14.88
-11.09%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.24 $19.24
$19.34 $19.34
-0.52%
Apples (1kg)
$4.55 $4.55
$5.17 $5.17
-11.99%
Banana (1kg)
$1.78 $1.78
$1.71 $1.71
4.09%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.36 $4.36
$4.41 $4.41
-1.13%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.48 $4.48
$4.51 $4.51
-0.67%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.53 $2.53
-
Onion (1kg)
$2.97 $2.97
$2.74 $2.74
8.39%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.99 $1.99
$2.43 $2.43
-18.11%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.97 $1.97
$2.7 $2.7
-27.04%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.04 $10.04
$15.19 $15.19
-33.90%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.09 $15.09
$16.42 $16.42
-8.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.31 $2.31
$2.35 $2.35
-1.70%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.57 $3.57
$3.7 $3.7
-3.51%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Evanston, IL
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.71 $2.71
$2.53 $2.53
7.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$73.7 $73.7
$74.1 $74.1
-0.57%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.58 $4.58
$3.34 $3.34
37.13%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.41 $1.41
$1.42 $1.42
-0.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$41.75 $41.75
$25.42 $25.42
64.24%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.91 $0.91
$1.08 $1.08
-15.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.1K $30.1K
$32.4K $32.4K
-7.28%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.8K $25.8K
$26.2K $26.2K
-1.78%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Evanston, IL
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$187 $187
$188 $188
-0.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.2 $63.2
$63.7 $63.7
-0.75%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$74.3 $74.3
$65.2 $65.2
13.91%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Evanston, IL
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.2 $76.2
$76.7 $76.7
-0.65%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$60.3 $60.3
$13.03 $13.03
362.62%
Cinema Ticket
$14.73 $14.73
$14.93 $14.93
-1.34%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Evanston, IL
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,652 $1,652
$2,063 $2,063
-19.91%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$35K $35K
$39.2K $39.2K
-10.58%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Evanston, IL
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$65.4 $65.4
$64.3 $64.3
1.71%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.35 $48.35
$52.4 $52.4
-7.71%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.9 $99.9
$95.2 $95.2
4.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$133 $133
$145 $145
-8.28%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Evanston, IL
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,639 $1,639
$2,378 $2,378
-31.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,101 $1,101
$1,584 $1,584
-30.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,940 $3,940
$4,763 $4,763
-17.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,008 $3,008
$2,815 $2,815
6.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$14.6K $14.6K
$3,588 $3,588
306.88%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$13.2K $13.2K
$2,490 $2,490
428.86%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Evanston, IL
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,667 $5,667
$5,275 $5,275
7.43%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.6
-

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Evanston, IL: October 27, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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