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

🙂 Solo nomad: Kansas City, MO is 14.8% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 23.1% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Kansas City, MO is 12.8% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 25.4% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kansas City, MO
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.97 $19.97
$20.82 $20.82
-4.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$80.8 $80.8
$100 $100
-19.50%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.16 $12.16
$11.97 $11.97
1.59%
Cappuccino
$4.87 $4.87
$5.56 $5.56
-12.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.3 $2.3
$3.11 $3.11
-26.05%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.87 $1.87
$2.42 $2.42
-22.73%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.84 $5.84
$6.86 $6.86
-14.87%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.12 $7.12
$8.45 $8.45
-15.74%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kansas City, MO
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.17 $1.17
$1.04 $1.04
12.50%
White Bread (500g)
$3.53 $3.53
$4.15 $4.15
-14.94%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.97 $4.97
$5.52 $5.52
-9.96%
Eggs
$3.73 $3.73
$4.65 $4.65
-19.78%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.1 $14.1
$14.33 $14.33
-1.61%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.38 $10.38
$14.88 $14.88
-30.24%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.13 $13.13
$19.34 $19.34
-32.11%
Apples (1kg)
$4.54 $4.54
$5.17 $5.17
-12.19%
Banana (1kg)
$1.44 $1.44
$1.71 $1.71
-15.79%
Oranges (1kg)
$6.4 $6.4
$4.41 $4.41
45.12%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.55 $6.55
$4.51 $4.51
45.23%
Potato (1kg)
$3.5 $3.5
$2.53 $2.53
38.34%
Onion (1kg)
$3.65 $3.65
$2.74 $2.74
33.21%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.24 $2.24
$2.43 $2.43
-7.82%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.73 $2.73
$2.7 $2.7
1.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.3 $7.3
$15.19 $15.19
-51.94%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.98 $14.98
$16.42 $16.42
-8.77%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.98 $1.98
$2.35 $2.35
-15.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.45 $5.45
$3.7 $3.7
47.30%
🚌 Getting Around
Kansas 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)
$2.18 $2.18
$1.42 $1.42
53.52%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$21.28 $21.28
$25.42 $25.42
-16.29%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.81 $0.81
$1.08 $1.08
-25.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.9K $35.9K
$32.4K $32.4K
10.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.8K $25.8K
$26.2K $26.2K
-1.45%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kansas City, MO
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$222 $222
$188 $188
17.70%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$62.2 $62.2
$63.7 $63.7
-2.35%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.6 $54.6
$65.2 $65.2
-16.24%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kansas City, MO
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$58.7 $58.7
$76.7 $76.7
-23.50%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.75 $29.75
$13.03 $13.03
128.32%
Cinema Ticket
$14.74 $14.74
$14.93 $14.93
-1.27%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kansas City, MO
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,403 $1,403
$2,063 $2,063
-31.99%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$28.6K $28.6K
$39.2K $39.2K
-26.96%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kansas City, MO
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.9 $53.9
$64.3 $64.3
-16.22%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.46 $41.46
$52.4 $52.4
-20.86%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$107 $107
$95.2 $95.2
12.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$126 $126
$145 $145
-12.60%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kansas City, MO
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,345 $1,345
$2,378 $2,378
-43.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,045 $1,045
$1,584 $1,584
-34.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,383 $2,383
$4,763 $4,763
-49.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,675 $1,675
$2,815 $2,815
-40.50%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,191 $2,191
$3,588 $3,588
-38.92%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,023 $2,023
$2,490 $2,490
-18.76%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kansas City, MO
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,938 $3,938
$5,275 $5,275
-25.35%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.5
6.6
-1.52%

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

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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