Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Jasper, IN and Chicago, IL

For one person, living is cheaper in Jasper, IN: $2,436 a month against $3,139 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $8,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Jasper, IN
🇺🇸 United States
$2,436
/mo nomad
Chicago, IL
🇺🇸 United States
$3,139
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Jasper, IN 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 Jasper, IN and in Chicago, IL actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,436 per month in Jasper, IN vs $3,139 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

  • Jasper, IN $2,436
  • Chicago, IL $3,139

A couple spends around $3,407 per month in Jasper, IN vs $4,627 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

  • Jasper, IN $3,407
  • Chicago, IL $4,627

A family of three spends $4,379 per month in Jasper, IN vs $6,115 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

  • Jasper, IN $4,379
  • Chicago, IL $6,115

Jasper, IN is about 22% cheaper than Chicago, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Jasper, IN and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – Jasper, IN by 80%, Chicago, IL by 132%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Jasper, IN
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.13 $13.13
$20.65 $20.65
-36.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$56.7 $56.7
$90.2 $90.2
-37.19%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.85 $8.85
$12.94 $12.94
-31.61%
Cappuccino
$4.99 $4.99
$5.60 $5.60
-10.89%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39 $2.39
$2.64 $2.64
-9.47%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05 $2.05
$2.27 $2.27
-9.69%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.91 $4.91
$6.98 $6.98
-29.66%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.03 $6.03
$8.83 $8.83
-31.71%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Jasper, IN
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.78 $0.78
$1.27 $1.27
-38.58%
White Bread (500g)
$2.81 $2.81
$3.80 $3.80
-26.05%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.93 $3.93
$5.30 $5.30
-25.85%
Eggs
$3.55 $3.55
$4.76 $4.76
-25.42%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.18 $10.18
$13.96 $13.96
-27.08%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.37 $10.37
$14.61 $14.61
-29.02%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.54 $14.54
$18.77 $18.77
-22.54%
Apples (1kg)
$5.36 $5.36
$5.19 $5.19
3.28%
Banana (1kg)
$1.48 $1.48
$1.98 $1.98
-25.25%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.81 $5.81
$3.93 $3.93
47.84%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.37 $4.37
$4.96 $4.96
-11.90%
Potato (1kg)
$4.31 $4.31
$2.76 $2.76
56.16%
Onion (1kg)
$3.18 $3.18
$2.76 $2.76
15.22%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.10 $2.10
$2.22 $2.22
-5.41%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$3.05 $3.05
$2.98 $2.98
2.35%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.84 $8.84
$14.02 $14.02
-36.95%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.92 $12.92
$15.28 $15.28
-15.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.77 $2.77
$2.58 $2.58
7.36%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.49 $3.49
$3.50 $3.50
-0.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Jasper, IN
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.11 $2.11
$2.47 $2.47
-14.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$74.8 $74.8
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.94 $4.94
$3.34 $3.34
47.90%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.82 $1.82
$1.43 $1.43
27.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.50 $30.50
$24.32 $24.32
25.41%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.95 $0.95
$1.26 $1.26
-24.60%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.3K $27.3K
$35.0K $35.0K
-21.95%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.0K $26.0K
$26.1K $26.1K
-0.19%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Jasper, IN
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$143 $143
$193 $193
-25.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$44.75 $44.75
$68.3 $68.3
-34.43%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$76.1 $76.1
$61.3 $61.3
24.06%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Jasper, IN
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.58 $37.58
$54.1 $54.1
-30.56%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$27.92 $27.92
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.19 $15.19
$17.74 $17.74
-14.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Jasper, IN
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,235 $2,235
$1,652 $1,652
35.33%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$24.9K $24.9K
$31.1K $31.1K
-19.85%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Jasper, IN
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.5 $51.5
$66.1 $66.1
-22.13%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.72 $31.72
$51.2 $51.2
-38.10%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 $115
$100 $100
15.26%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$154 $154
$141 $141
9.11%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Jasper, IN
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,579 $1,579
$2,446 $2,446
-35.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,293 $1,293
$1,678 $1,678
-22.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,523 $2,523
$4,717 $4,717
-46.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,888 $1,888
$2,795 $2,795
-32.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,544 $2,544
$4,105 $4,105
-38.02%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,063 $2,063
$2,650 $2,650
-22.14%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Jasper, IN
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$4,866 $4,866
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.82
6.81
0.15%

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

Last update for Jasper, IN: October 18, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Jasper, IN
$1.3K
Chicago, IL
$1.7K 29.7% $384
Groceries & Markets
Jasper, IN
$384
Chicago, IL
$449 17.2% $66
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Jasper, IN
$264
Chicago, IL
$322 22% $58
Eating Out
Jasper, IN
$246
Chicago, IL
$343 39.7% $98
Clothing & Footwear
Jasper, IN
$159
Chicago, IL
$161 1.7% $2.7
Sport & Entertainment
Jasper, IN
$68
Chicago, IL
$90 31.8% $22
Getting Around
Jasper, IN
$22 *
Chicago, IL
$95 324% $73

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,579 in Jasper, IN 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $57.0 in Jasper, IN versus $90.0 in Chicago, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $384 vs $449 – making Jasper, IN the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Jasper, IN
🇺🇸 Chicago, IL
🕒 Local time
23:56 11:56 PM
22:56 10:56 PM
1 h behind Jasper, IN
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
15,000
2,746,388
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Jasper, IN Chicago, IL 390 km
From you
  • Jasper, IN
  • 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
Jasper, IN vs Chicago, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Jasper, IN and in Chicago, IL compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,436 in Jasper, IN, $3,139 in Chicago, IL – roughly 29% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in eating out.
What salary covers living expenses in Jasper, IN compared to Chicago, IL?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,654 per month in Jasper, IN and $4,708 in Chicago, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Jasper, IN and Chicago, IL?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Jasper, IN, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $57.0 in Jasper, IN and $90.0 in Chicago, IL. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 17% 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.
Which city is feasible on a $2,000 budget?
$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,436 in Jasper, IN and $3,139 in Chicago, IL. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
How does quality of life compare between Jasper, IN and Chicago, IL?
It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,436 in Jasper, IN to $3,139 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How do I decide between Jasper, IN and Chicago, IL?
If budget matters most, go with Jasper, IN. 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.

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