Cost of Living Comparison Between Fort Madison, IA and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Fort Madison, IA and Chicago, IL

🙂 Solo nomad: Fort Madison, IA is 28.1% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 14.7% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Fort Madison, IA is 17.3% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 22% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.63 $18.63

$20.82 $20.82

-10.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.9 $74.9

$100 $100

-25.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.85 $10.85

$11.97 $11.97

-9.36%

Cappuccino

$5 $5

$5.56 $5.56

-10.07%

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

$2.51 $2.51

$3.11 $3.11

-19.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.02 $2.02

$2.42 $2.42

-16.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.87 $5.87

$6.86 $6.86

-14.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.21 $7.21

$8.45 $8.45

-14.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$1.04 $1.04

0.96%

White Bread (500g)

$3.43 $3.43

$4.15 $4.15

-17.35%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.29 $4.29

$5.52 $5.52

-22.28%

Eggs

$4.18 $4.18

$4.65 $4.65

-10.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.33 $12.33

$14.33 $14.33

-13.96%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.46 $11.46

$14.88 $14.88

-22.98%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.17 $15.17

$19.34 $19.34

-21.56%

Apples (1kg)

$4.77 $4.77

$5.17 $5.17

-7.74%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 $1.64

$1.71 $1.71

-4.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.29 $4.29

$4.41 $4.41

-2.72%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.74 $4.74

$4.51 $4.51

5.10%

Potato (1kg)

$2.81 $2.81

$2.53 $2.53

11.07%

Onion (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$2.74 $2.74

1.82%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 $2.04

$2.43 $2.43

-16.05%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$2.7 $2.7

-19.26%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.55 $9.55

$15.19 $15.19

-37.13%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.89 $13.89

$16.42 $16.42

-15.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.85 $1.85

$2.35 $2.35

-21.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.42 $3.42

$3.7 $3.7

-7.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.03 $2.03

$2.53 $2.53

-19.76%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.53 $3.53

$3.34 $3.34

5.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.42 $1.42

16.20%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.13 $29.13

$25.42 $25.42

14.59%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.84 $0.84

$1.08 $1.08

-22.22%

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

$29.9K $29.9K

$32.4K $32.4K

-7.81%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$26.2K $26.2K

-2.03%

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

$190 $190

$188 $188

0.78%

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

$53 $53

$63.7 $63.7

-16.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$68.6 $68.6

$65.2 $65.2

5.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.95 $42.95

$76.7 $76.7

-44.02%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$13.75 $13.75

$14.93 $14.93

-7.90%

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

$1,316 $1,316

$2,063 $2,063

-36.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.2K $23.2K

$39.2K $39.2K

-40.86%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.7 $50.7

$64.3 $64.3

-21.19%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.59 $40.59

$52.4 $52.4

-22.52%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.2 $86.2

$95.2 $95.2

-9.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$111 $111

$145 $145

-23.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,593 $1,593

$2,378 $2,378

-33.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,349 $1,349

$1,584 $1,584

-14.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,584 $2,584

$4,763 $4,763

-45.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,220 $2,220

$2,815 $2,815

-21.12%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,706 $2,706

$3,588 $3,588

-24.58%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,319 $2,319

$2,490 $2,490

-6.88%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.51

6.6

-1.36%

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

Last update for Fort Madison, IA: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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