Cost of Living Comparison Between Golden, CO and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Golden, CO and Chicago, IL

๐Ÿ™‚ Solo nomad: Golden, CO is 14.7% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 11.5% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ™‚ Family of 3: Golden, CO is 18.2% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 18.5% cheaper with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Golden, CO
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.33 $20.33
$20.82 $20.82
-2.35%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74 $74
$100 $100
-26.21%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.17 $10.17
$11.97 $11.97
-15.04%
Cappuccino
$5.83 $5.83
$5.56 $5.56
4.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53 $2.53
$3.11 $3.11
-18.65%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37 $2.37
$2.42 $2.42
-2.07%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.18 $6.18
$6.86 $6.86
-9.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.98 $4.98
$8.45 $8.45
-41.07%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Golden, CO
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.02 $1.02
$1.04 $1.04
-1.92%
White Bread (500g)
$3.52 $3.52
$4.15 $4.15
-15.18%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.54 $4.54
$5.52 $5.52
-17.75%
Eggs
$5.4 $5.4
$4.65 $4.65
16.13%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.36 $15.36
$14.33 $14.33
7.19%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.13 $15.13
$14.88 $14.88
1.68%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.46 $18.46
$19.34 $19.34
-4.55%
Apples (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$5.17 $5.17
-12.77%
Banana (1kg)
$1.6 $1.6
$1.71 $1.71
-6.43%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.82 $3.82
$4.41 $4.41
-13.38%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.82 $4.82
$4.51 $4.51
6.87%
Potato (1kg)
$2.68 $2.68
$2.53 $2.53
5.93%
Onion (1kg)
$2.67 $2.67
$2.74 $2.74
-2.55%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.25 $2.25
$2.43 $2.43
-7.41%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.31 $2.31
$2.7 $2.7
-14.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.87 $9.87
$15.19 $15.19
-35.02%
Wine (Bottle)
$20.21 $20.21
$16.42 $16.42
23.08%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.25 $2.25
$2.35 $2.35
-4.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.71 $3.71
$3.7 $3.7
0.27%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Golden, CO
Chicago, IL
Difference
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)
$2.46 $2.46
$3.34 $3.34
-26.35%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.38 $1.38
$1.42 $1.42
-2.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.27 $25.27
$25.42 $25.42
-0.59%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.87 $0.87
$1.08 $1.08
-19.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6K $26.6K
$32.4K $32.4K
-17.89%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.9K $25.9K
$26.2K $26.2K
-1.14%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Golden, CO
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$188 $188
0.08%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$71.7 $71.7
$63.7 $63.7
12.53%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$70 $70
$65.2 $65.2
7.33%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Golden, CO
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.65 $42.65
$76.7 $76.7
-44.41%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.19 $15.19
$14.93 $14.93
1.74%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Golden, CO
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,485 $1,485
$2,063 $2,063
-28.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$24.8K $24.8K
$39.2K $39.2K
-36.72%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Golden, CO
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.8 $58.8
$64.3 $64.3
-8.61%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.02 $25.02
$52.4 $52.4
-52.24%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$89.8 $89.8
$95.2 $95.2
-5.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$99.2 $99.2
$145 $145
-31.41%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Golden, CO
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,582 $1,582
$2,378 $2,378
-33.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,341 $1,341
$1,584 $1,584
-15.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,643 $2,643
$4,763 $4,763
-44.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,257 $2,257
$2,815 $2,815
-19.82%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,764 $2,764
$3,588 $3,588
-22.96%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,179 $2,179
$2,490 $2,490
-12.52%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Golden, CO
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$5,275 $5,275
-
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 Golden, CO: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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