Cost of Living Comparison Between Kansas City, KS and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Kansas City, KS and Chicago, IL

🙂 Solo nomad: Kansas City, KS is 11.2% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 10.2% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Kansas City, KS is 0.7% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 16.9% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kansas City, KS
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.39 $20.39
$20.82 $20.82
-2.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$65.9 $65.9
$100 $100
-34.32%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.12 $12.12
$11.97 $11.97
1.25%
Cappuccino
$5.05 $5.05
$5.56 $5.56
-9.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31 $2.31
$3.11 $3.11
-25.72%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86 $1.86
$2.42 $2.42
-23.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.98 $4.98
$6.86 $6.86
-27.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.01 $7.01
$8.45 $8.45
-17.04%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kansas City, KS
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.94 $0.94
$1.04 $1.04
-9.62%
White Bread (500g)
$3.42 $3.42
$4.15 $4.15
-17.59%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.86 $4.86
$5.52 $5.52
-11.96%
Eggs
$4.53 $4.53
$4.65 $4.65
-2.58%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.92 $10.92
$14.33 $14.33
-23.80%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.05 $11.05
$14.88 $14.88
-25.74%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.89 $12.89
$19.34 $19.34
-33.35%
Apples (1kg)
$5.33 $5.33
$5.17 $5.17
3.09%
Banana (1kg)
$2.02 $2.02
$1.71 $1.71
18.13%
Oranges (1kg)
$6.46 $6.46
$4.41 $4.41
46.49%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.83 $5.83
$4.51 $4.51
29.27%
Potato (1kg)
$4.17 $4.17
$2.53 $2.53
64.82%
Onion (1kg)
$3.6 $3.6
$2.74 $2.74
31.39%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.29 $2.29
$2.43 $2.43
-5.76%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.23 $2.23
$2.7 $2.7
-17.41%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.65 $9.65
$15.19 $15.19
-36.47%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.82 $14.82
$16.42 $16.42
-9.74%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72 $1.72
$2.35 $2.35
-26.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.26 $5.26
$3.7 $3.7
42.16%
🚌 Getting Around
Kansas City, KS
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.53 $1.53
$2.53 $2.53
-39.53%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$54.1 $54.1
$74.1 $74.1
-27.07%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.95 $4.95
$3.34 $3.34
48.20%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.59 $1.59
$1.42 $1.42
11.97%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$41.96 $41.96
$25.42 $25.42
65.07%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.82 $0.82
$1.08 $1.08
-24.07%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30K $30K
$32.4K $32.4K
-7.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.7K $25.7K
$26.2K $26.2K
-2.17%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kansas City, KS
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$194 $194
$188 $188
2.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$53 $53
$63.7 $63.7
-16.83%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.2 $53.2
$65.2 $65.2
-18.45%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kansas City, KS
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$113 $113
$76.7 $76.7
47.52%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$65.1 $65.1
$13.03 $13.03
399.92%
Cinema Ticket
$14.98 $14.98
$14.93 $14.93
0.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kansas City, KS
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,073 $1,073
$2,063 $2,063
-47.99%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$28.4K $28.4K
$39.2K $39.2K
-27.42%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kansas City, KS
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$48.4 $48.4
$64.3 $64.3
-24.74%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.31 $34.31
$52.4 $52.4
-34.51%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$90.9 $90.9
$95.2 $95.2
-4.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124 $124
$145 $145
-14.49%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kansas City, KS
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,346 $1,346
$2,378 $2,378
-43.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,317 $1,317
$1,584 $1,584
-16.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,398 $3,398
$4,763 $4,763
-28.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,176 $2,176
$2,815 $2,815
-22.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,348 $2,348
$3,588 $3,588
-34.56%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,392 $2,392
$2,490 $2,490
-3.95%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kansas City, KS
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,191 $3,191
$5,275 $5,275
-39.50%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.54
6.6
-0.91%

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

Last update for Kansas City, KS: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Similar cities

Join the CityCost newsletter – low traffic, no spam, and easy to unsubscribe. Your email stays private.