Cost of Living Comparison Between Fort Collins, CO and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Fort Collins, CO and Chicago, IL

๐Ÿ™‚ Solo nomad: Fort Collins, CO is 17.8% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 19.8% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ™‚ Family of 3: Fort Collins, CO is 20.3% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 21% cheaper with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Fort Collins, CO
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.17 $18.17
$20.82 $20.82
-12.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$72.1 $72.1
$100 $100
-28.16%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.33 $11.33
$11.97 $11.97
-5.35%
Cappuccino
$4.97 $4.97
$5.56 $5.56
-10.61%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.98 $1.98
$3.11 $3.11
-36.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.46 $2.46
$2.42 $2.42
1.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.03 $7.03
$6.86 $6.86
2.48%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.42 $6.42
$8.45 $8.45
-24.02%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Fort Collins, CO
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.06 $1.06
$1.04 $1.04
1.92%
White Bread (500g)
$3.15 $3.15
$4.15 $4.15
-24.10%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.27 $3.27
$5.52 $5.52
-40.76%
Eggs
$4.19 $4.19
$4.65 $4.65
-9.89%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.97 $10.97
$14.33 $14.33
-23.45%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.45 $8.45
$14.88 $14.88
-43.21%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.54 $16.54
$19.34 $19.34
-14.48%
Apples (1kg)
$3.97 $3.97
$5.17 $5.17
-23.21%
Banana (1kg)
$1.57 $1.57
$1.71 $1.71
-8.19%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.2 $4.2
$4.41 $4.41
-4.76%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.89 $4.89
$4.51 $4.51
8.43%
Potato (1kg)
$2.36 $2.36
$2.53 $2.53
-6.72%
Onion (1kg)
$1.87 $1.87
$2.74 $2.74
-31.75%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.4 $2.4
$2.43 $2.43
-1.23%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.02 $2.02
$2.7 $2.7
-25.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.53 $9.53
$15.19 $15.19
-37.26%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.69 $17.69
$16.42 $16.42
7.73%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.3 $2.3
$2.35 $2.35
-2.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.67 $2.67
$3.7 $3.7
-27.84%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Fort Collins, CO
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)
$2.56 $2.56
$3.34 $3.34
-23.35%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.43 $1.43
$1.42 $1.42
0.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$24.8 $24.8
$25.42 $25.42
-2.44%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.87 $0.87
$1.08 $1.08
-19.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.6K $27.6K
$32.4K $32.4K
-14.95%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.3K $25.3K
$26.2K $26.2K
-3.62%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Fort Collins, CO
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$165 $165
$188 $188
-12.07%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$42.5 $42.5
$63.7 $63.7
-33.28%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$77.3 $77.3
$65.2 $65.2
18.50%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Fort Collins, CO
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$59.7 $59.7
$76.7 $76.7
-22.22%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.81 $14.81
$13.03 $13.03
13.66%
Cinema Ticket
$11.93 $11.93
$14.93 $14.93
-20.09%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Fort Collins, CO
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,511 $1,511
$2,063 $2,063
-26.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.4K $12.4K
$39.2K $39.2K
-68.35%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Fort Collins, CO
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$67.7 $67.7
$64.3 $64.3
5.32%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$92.2 $92.2
$52.4 $52.4
75.99%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.2 $79.2
$95.2 $95.2
-16.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107 $107
$145 $145
-26.36%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Fort Collins, CO
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,781 $1,781
$2,378 $2,378
-25.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,274 $1,274
$1,584 $1,584
-19.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,821 $2,821
$4,763 $4,763
-40.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,244 $2,244
$2,815 $2,815
-20.28%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,673 $4,673
$3,588 $3,588
30.24%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,209 $3,209
$2,490 $2,490
28.88%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Fort Collins, CO
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,731 $4,731
$5,275 $5,275
-10.31%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.59
6.6
-0.15%

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

Last update for Fort Collins, CO: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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