Cost of Living Comparison Between Evanston, IL and Colorado Springs, CO Cost of Living Comparison Between Evanston, IL and Colorado Springs, CO

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,501 in Evanston, IL versus $3,108 in Colorado Springs, CO.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,379 in Evanston, IL versus $4,275 in Colorado Springs, CO.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,257 in Evanston, IL versus $5,442 in Colorado Springs, CO.

Living in Evanston, IL costs roughly 20% less than in Colorado Springs, CO, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Evanston, IL 87% above, Colorado Springs, CO 133% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.22 $20.22

$19.73 $19.73

2.48%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$79.0 $79.0

$83.9 $83.9

-5.89%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.98 $11.98

$9.85 $9.85

21.62%

Cappuccino

$5.41 $5.41

$6.22 $6.22

-13.02%

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

$2.65 $2.65

$3.26 $3.26

-18.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.27 $2.27

$2.33 $2.33

-2.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.20 $7.20

$6.24 $6.24

15.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.90 $6.90

$6.99 $6.99

-1.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$1.00 $1.00

8.00%

White Bread (500g)

$3.73 $3.73

$3.68 $3.68

1.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.38 $5.38

$4.43 $4.43

21.44%

Eggs

$4.52 $4.52

$5.54 $5.54

-18.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.70 $13.70

$15.65 $15.65

-12.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.39 $13.39

$15.24 $15.24

-12.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.03 $19.03

$18.33 $18.33

3.82%

Apples (1kg)

$4.43 $4.43

$4.39 $4.39

0.91%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 $1.70

$1.59 $1.59

6.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.37 $4.37

$3.71 $3.71

17.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.48 $4.48

$4.81 $4.81

-6.86%

Potato (1kg)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.72 $2.72

-9.19%

Onion (1kg)

$2.90 $2.90

$2.71 $2.71

7.01%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.02 $2.02

$2.26 $2.26

-10.62%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.02 $2.02

$2.28 $2.28

-11.40%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.83 $9.83

$10.16 $10.16

-3.25%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.23 $15.23

$19.35 $19.35

-21.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.37 $2.37

$2.21 $2.21

7.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 $3.73

$3.82 $3.82

-2.36%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.34 $2.34

17.09%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.4 $75.4

$62.0 $62.0

21.64%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.47 $4.47

$2.47 $2.47

80.97%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.36 $1.36

$1.43 $1.43

-4.90%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.68 $41.68

$24.96 $24.96

66.99%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.90 $0.90

$0.86 $0.86

4.65%

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

$29.6K $29.6K

$27.3K $27.3K

8.41%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$26.1K $26.1K

-1.67%

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

$184 $184

$194 $194

-5.08%

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

$63.6 $63.6

$71.9 $71.9

-11.63%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.1 $76.1

$101 $101

-24.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.1 $75.1

$61.6 $61.6

22.01%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$60.1 $60.1

$29.72 $29.72

102.22%

Cinema Ticket

$14.94 $14.94

$15.05 $15.05

-0.73%

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

$1,598 $1,598

$1,477 $1,477

8.14%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$34.5K $34.5K

$24.1K $24.1K

43.11%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$65.1 $65.1

$58.8 $58.8

10.73%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.92 $48.92

$37.24 $37.24

31.36%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 $102

$91.4 $91.4

11.11%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$135 $135

$102 $102

31.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,683 $1,683

$1,702 $1,702

-1.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,121 $1,121

$1,628 $1,628

-31.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,016 $4,016

$2,591 $2,591

54.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,056 $3,056

$2,272 $2,272

34.51%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$14.6K $14.6K

$2,514 $2,514

481.84%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$13.1K $13.1K

$2,444 $2,444

435.33%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,271 $5,271

$4,292 $4,292

22.81%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

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

Last update for Evanston, IL: July 13, 2026

Last update for Colorado Springs, CO: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,683 in Evanston, IL and $1,702 in Colorado Springs, CO. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Evanston, IL pays 23% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $79.0 in Evanston, IL vs $84.0 in Colorado Springs, CO for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $420 vs $443 per month, with Evanston, IL cheaper across the board.

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

Evanston, IL vs Colorado Springs, CO: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Evanston, IL is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 24% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 23% higher in Evanston, IL, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,683 in Evanston, IL versus $1,702 in Colorado Springs, CO. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 5% higher in Colorado Springs, CO. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Evanston, IL – a meal for two runs $79.0 versus $84.0 in Colorado Springs, CO. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Evanston, IL is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Evanston, IL and Colorado Springs, CO are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Evanston, IL gentler on the wallet – expenses run 24% less than in Colorado Springs, CO. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.