Cost of Living Comparison Between Jefferson City, MO and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Jefferson City, MO and Chicago, IL

๐Ÿ™‚ Solo nomad: Jefferson City, MO is 33% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 16.2% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ™‚ Family of 3: Jefferson City, MO is 36.1% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 25.9% cheaper with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Jefferson City, MO
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.04 $15.04
$20.82 $20.82
-27.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$40.25 $40.25
$100 $100
-59.89%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.11 $10.11
$11.97 $11.97
-15.54%
Cappuccino
$4.88 $4.88
$5.56 $5.56
-12.23%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99 $1.99
$3.11 $3.11
-36.01%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47 $1.47
$2.42 $2.42
-39.26%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.07 $5.07
$6.86 $6.86
-26.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.91 $5.91
$8.45 $8.45
-30.06%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Jefferson City, MO
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.67 $0.67
$1.04 $1.04
-35.58%
White Bread (500g)
$2.25 $2.25
$4.15 $4.15
-45.78%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.29 $4.29
$5.52 $5.52
-22.28%
Eggs
$3.58 $3.58
$4.65 $4.65
-23.01%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.28 $4.28
$14.33 $14.33
-70.13%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.32 $10.32
$14.88 $14.88
-30.65%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.06 $13.06
$19.34 $19.34
-32.47%
Apples (1kg)
$4.6 $4.6
$5.17 $5.17
-11.03%
Banana (1kg)
$1.51 $1.51
$1.71 $1.71
-11.70%
Oranges (1kg)
$6.46 $6.46
$4.41 $4.41
46.49%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.53 $4.53
$4.51 $4.51
0.44%
Potato (1kg)
$3.62 $3.62
$2.53 $2.53
43.08%
Onion (1kg)
$3.6 $3.6
$2.74 $2.74
31.39%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.23 $2.23
$2.43 $2.43
-8.23%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.04 $2.04
$2.7 $2.7
-24.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.23 $7.23
$15.19 $15.19
-52.40%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.42 $12.42
$16.42 $16.42
-24.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.88 $1.88
$2.35 $2.35
-20.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.39 $5.39
$3.7 $3.7
45.68%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Jefferson City, MO
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.98 $1.98
$2.53 $2.53
-21.74%
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)
$2.16 $2.16
$1.42 $1.42
52.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$20.66 $20.66
$25.42 $25.42
-18.73%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.72 $0.72
$1.08 $1.08
-33.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.2K $36.2K
$32.4K $32.4K
11.53%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.5K $25.5K
$26.2K $26.2K
-2.57%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Jefferson City, MO
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$216 $216
$188 $188
15.02%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$61.7 $61.7
$63.7 $63.7
-3.16%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.9 $53.9
$65.2 $65.2
-17.32%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Jefferson City, MO
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.34 $43.34
$76.7 $76.7
-43.51%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.82 $14.82
$14.93 $14.93
-0.74%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Jefferson City, MO
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,363 $1,363
$2,063 $2,063
-33.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$29.2K $29.2K
$39.2K $39.2K
-25.50%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Jefferson City, MO
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.5 $53.5
$64.3 $64.3
-16.75%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.67 $42.67
$52.4 $52.4
-18.55%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$104 $104
$95.2 $95.2
9.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$126 $126
$145 $145
-13.20%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Jefferson City, MO
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,604 $1,604
$2,378 $2,378
-32.54%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,361 $1,361
$1,584 $1,584
-14.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,609 $2,609
$4,763 $4,763
-45.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,184 $2,184
$2,815 $2,815
-22.42%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,569 $1,569
$3,588 $3,588
-56.28%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,725 $1,725
$2,490 $2,490
-30.72%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Jefferson City, MO
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,916 $1,916
$5,275 $5,275
-63.68%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.5
6.6
-1.52%

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

Last update for Jefferson City, MO: October 27, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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