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: $2,548 in Evanston, IL versus $3,042 in Colorado Springs, CO.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,455 in Evanston, IL versus $4,360 in Colorado Springs, CO.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,363 in Evanston, IL versus $5,679 in Colorado Springs, CO.

Living in Evanston, IL costs roughly 16% less than in Colorado Springs, CO, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Evanston, IL 85% above, Colorado Springs, CO 121% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.23 $20.23

$19.93 $19.93

1.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$84.1 $84.1

$85.7 $85.7

-1.83%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.93 $12.93

$12.78 $12.78

1.17%

Cappuccino

$5.75 $5.75

$5.41 $5.41

6.28%

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

$2.69 $2.69

$2.68 $2.68

0.37%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 $2.25

$2.23 $2.23

0.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.03 $7.03

$5.91 $5.91

18.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.46 $7.46

$7.16 $7.16

4.19%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.03 $1.03

$1.00 $1.00

3.00%

White Bread (500g)

$3.96 $3.96

$3.30 $3.30

20.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.72 $4.72

$4.16 $4.16

13.46%

Eggs

$4.92 $4.92

$5.98 $5.98

-17.73%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.71 $14.71

$15.00 $15.00

-1.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.40 $14.40

$13.47 $13.47

6.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.54 $19.54

$19.02 $19.02

2.73%

Apples (1kg)

$5.36 $5.36

$5.52 $5.52

-2.90%

Banana (1kg)

$1.67 $1.67

$1.42 $1.42

17.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.23 $4.23

$4.53 $4.53

-6.62%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.83 $4.83

$4.73 $4.73

2.11%

Potato (1kg)

$2.77 $2.77

$2.42 $2.42

14.46%

Onion (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$2.54 $2.54

9.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.06 $2.06

$2.38 $2.38

-13.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.94 $1.94

24.74%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.54 $10.54

$10.60 $10.60

-0.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.25 $15.25

$19.16 $19.16

-20.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.64 $2.64

$3.23 $3.23

-18.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.48 $3.48

$4.52 $4.52

-23.01%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.46 $2.46

$1.77 $1.77

38.98%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.7 $74.7

$63.8 $63.8

17.10%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.96 $3.96

$3.75 $3.75

5.60%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.44 $1.44

-1.39%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$43.60 $43.60

$24.90 $24.90

75.10%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 $0.94

$1.02 $1.02

-7.84%

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

$36.4K $36.4K

$24.9K $24.9K

46.36%

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

$25.6K $25.6K

$25.2K $25.2K

1.66%

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

$191 $191

$201 $201

-5.34%

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

$62.1 $62.1

$94.3 $94.3

-34.14%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.0 $74.0

$102 $102

-27.55%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$74.5 $74.5

$57.7 $57.7

29.17%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$58.9 $58.9

$34.19 $34.19

72.18%

Cinema Ticket

$14.82 $14.82

$14.88 $14.88

-0.40%

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

$1,560 $1,560

$1,475 $1,475

5.74%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.3K $31.3K

$24.3K $24.3K

28.44%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.2 $63.2

$57.6 $57.6

9.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.7 $50.7

$34.75 $34.75

45.78%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$105 $105

$80.7 $80.7

30.14%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$124 $124

$101 $101

22.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,677 $1,677

$1,712 $1,712

-2.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,106 $1,106

$1,509 $1,509

-26.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,992 $3,992

$2,651 $2,651

50.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,021 $3,021

$2,390 $2,390

26.40%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$14.5K $14.5K

$2,596 $2,596

457.37%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$12.8K $12.8K

$2,405 $2,405

432.37%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,329 $5,329

$4,242 $4,242

25.62%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.38

6.14

3.91%

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

Last update for Evanston, IL: September 1, 2026

Last update for Colorado Springs, CO: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,677 in Evanston, IL and $1,712 in Colorado Springs, CO. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Evanston, IL pays 26% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $84.0 in Evanston, IL vs $86.0 in Colorado Springs, CO. Groceries flip the comparison at $443 vs $440, with Colorado Springs, CO cheaper for home cooking.

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 Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 19% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 26% 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: $1,677 in Evanston, IL versus $1,712 in Colorado Springs, CO. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Colorado Springs, CO pay roughly 1% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

Dining out is cheaper in Evanston, IL – a meal for two runs $84.0 versus $86.0 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 19% less than in Colorado Springs, CO. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.