Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Hot Springs, AR and Chicago, IL

For one person, living is cheaper in Hot Springs, AR: $1,705 a month against $3,139 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $17,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

83

Cost of Living Index in Hot Springs, AR
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Hot Springs, AR Living Index
152

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
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Chicago, IL Living Index

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Hot Springs, AR

🇺🇸 United States

$1,705

/mo nomad

Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,139

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Hot Springs, AR and in Chicago, IL

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Hot Springs, AR and in Chicago, IL actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,705 per month in Hot Springs, AR vs $3,139 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Hot Springs, AR $1,705
Chicago, IL $3,139

A couple spends around $2,568 per month in Hot Springs, AR vs $4,627 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Hot Springs, AR $2,568
Chicago, IL $4,627

A family of three spends $3,431 per month in Hot Springs, AR vs $6,115 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Hot Springs, AR $3,431
Chicago, IL $6,115

Hot Springs, AR is about 46% cheaper than Chicago, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Hot Springs, AR and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – Hot Springs, AR by 26%, Chicago, IL by 132%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.45 $16.45

$20.65 $20.65

-20.34%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$69.7 $69.7

$90.2 $90.2

-22.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.35 $9.35

$12.94 $12.94

-27.74%

Cappuccino

$4.89 $4.89

$5.60 $5.60

-12.68%

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

$2.89 $2.89

$2.64 $2.64

9.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.53 $1.53

$2.27 $2.27

-32.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.10 $5.10

$6.98 $6.98

-26.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.83 $5.83

$8.83 $8.83

-33.98%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.89 $0.89

$1.27 $1.27

-29.92%

White Bread (500g)

$3.05 $3.05

$3.80 $3.80

-19.74%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.99 $1.99

$5.30 $5.30

-62.45%

Eggs

$2.40 $2.40

$4.76 $4.76

-49.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.83 $10.83

$13.96 $13.96

-22.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.45 $12.45

$14.61 $14.61

-14.78%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.77 $19.77

$18.77 $18.77

5.33%

Apples (1kg)

$3.47 $3.47

$5.19 $5.19

-33.14%

Banana (1kg)

$1.32 $1.32

$1.98 $1.98

-33.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.58 $3.58

$3.93 $3.93

-8.91%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.75 $3.75

$4.96 $4.96

-24.40%

Potato (1kg)

$1.79 $1.79

$2.76 $2.76

-35.14%

Onion (1kg)

$2.73 $2.73

$2.76 $2.76

-1.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.32 $2.32

$2.22 $2.22

4.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.13 $1.13

$2.98 $2.98

-62.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.38 $9.38

$14.02 $14.02

-33.10%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.32 $19.32

$15.28 $15.28

26.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$2.58 $2.58

1.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.52 $4.52

$3.50 $3.50

29.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.22 $1.22

$2.47 $2.47

-50.61%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.51 $28.51

$74.8 $74.8

-61.86%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.81 $2.81

$3.34 $3.34

-15.87%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.13 $2.13

$1.43 $1.43

48.95%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.32 $24.32

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.89 $0.89

$1.26 $1.26

-29.37%

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

$17.1K $17.1K

$35.0K $35.0K

-51.07%

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

$23.4K $23.4K

$26.1K $26.1K

-10.35%

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

$176 $176

$193 $193

-8.73%

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

$56.1 $56.1

$68.3 $68.3

-17.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$39.93 $39.93

$61.3 $61.3

-34.86%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.04 $35.04

$54.1 $54.1

-35.25%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.17 $10.17

$27.92 $27.92

-63.57%

Cinema Ticket

$9.98 $9.98

$17.74 $17.74

-43.74%

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

$593 $593

$1,652 $1,652

-64.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.1K $31.1K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$39.70 $39.70

$66.1 $66.1

-39.91%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.75 $39.75

$51.2 $51.2

-22.42%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 $102

$100 $100

1.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.0 $80.0

$141 $141

-43.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$733 $733

$2,446 $2,446

-70.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$577 $577

$1,678 $1,678

-65.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,063 $1,063

$4,717 $4,717

-77.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$899 $899

$2,795 $2,795

-67.84%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,967 $1,967

$4,105 $4,105

-52.09%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,972 $1,972

$2,650 $2,650

-25.58%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,440 $3,440

$4,866 $4,866

-29.29%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.49

6.81

-4.70%

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

Last update for Hot Springs, AR: October 19, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Hot Springs, AR

$577 33.8%

Chicago, IL

$1.7K 53.5% 191% $1.1K

Groceries & Markets

Hot Springs, AR

$364 21.3%

Chicago, IL

$449 14.3% 23.5% $86

Eating Out

Hot Springs, AR

$273 16%

Chicago, IL

$343 10.9% 25.8% $70

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Hot Springs, AR

$272 16%

Chicago, IL

$322 10.3% 18.5% $50

Clothing & Footwear

Hot Springs, AR

$117 6.9%

Chicago, IL

$161 5.1% 37.3% $44

Sport & Entertainment

Hot Springs, AR

$55 3.2%

Chicago, IL

$90 2.9% 62.9% $35

Getting Around

Hot Springs, AR

$47 2.8%

Chicago, IL

$95 3% 103% $48

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $733 in Hot Springs, AR versus $2,446 in Chicago, IL. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 41% higher in Chicago, IL, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $70.0 in Hot Springs, AR versus $90.0 in Chicago, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $364 vs $449 – making Hot Springs, AR the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Hot Springs, AR

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🕒 Local time

05:52 5:52 AM

Same time as Hot Springs, AR

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

37,930

2,746,388

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

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Between locations

Hot Springs, AR Chicago, IL 950 km ≈ 1 h 45 min nonstop flight

From you

Hot Springs, AR
Chicago, IL

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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

Hot Springs, AR vs Chicago, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,705 in Hot Springs, AR, $3,139 in Chicago, IL – roughly 84% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,557 per month in Hot Springs, AR and $4,708 in Chicago, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Hot Springs, AR, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 24% more in Chicago, IL, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $70.0 in Hot Springs, AR and $90.0 in Chicago, IL. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Hot Springs, AR, where all-in costs run around $1,705, than in Chicago, IL at $3,139. In Hot Springs, AR it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chicago, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,705 in Hot Springs, AR to $3,139 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Hot Springs, AR. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chicago, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.