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Cost of Living Comparison Between Kauai, Hawaii and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Kauai, Hawaii and Chicago, IL

🙂 Solo nomad: Kauai, Hawaii is 19.8% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 16.5% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Kauai, Hawaii is 19.7% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 18.3% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kauai, Hawaii
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.82 $18.82
$20.53 $20.53
-8.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$75.7 $75.7
$99.3 $99.3
-23.79%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.93 $10.93
$12.22 $12.22
-10.56%
Cappuccino
$5.18 $5.18
$5.75 $5.75
-9.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.57 $2.57
$2.97 $2.97
-13.47%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05 $2.05
$2.37 $2.37
-13.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.89 $5.89
$7.03 $7.03
-16.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.79 $6.79
$8.3 $8.3
-18.19%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kauai, Hawaii
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1 $1
$1.05 $1.05
-4.76%
White Bread (500g)
$3.54 $3.54
$3.99 $3.99
-11.28%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.43 $4.43
$5.48 $5.48
-19.16%
Eggs
$4.18 $4.18
$4.71 $4.71
-11.25%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.38 $12.38
$14.09 $14.09
-12.14%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.63 $11.63
$15.15 $15.15
-23.23%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.4 $15.4
$19.09 $19.09
-19.33%
Apples (1kg)
$4.94 $4.94
$5.23 $5.23
-5.54%
Banana (1kg)
$1.59 $1.59
$1.71 $1.71
-7.02%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.15 $4.15
$4.33 $4.33
-4.16%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.83 $4.83
$4.4 $4.4
9.77%
Potato (1kg)
$2.88 $2.88
$2.43 $2.43
18.52%
Onion (1kg)
$2.87 $2.87
$2.84 $2.84
1.06%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.01 $2.01
$2.38 $2.38
-15.55%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.18 $2.18
$2.57 $2.57
-15.18%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.39 $9.39
$15.21 $15.21
-38.26%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.88 $13.88
$15.26 $15.26
-9.04%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77 $1.77
$2.45 $2.45
-27.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.34 $3.34
$3.62 $3.62
-7.73%
🚌 Getting Around
Kauai, Hawaii
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.98 $1.98
$2.43 $2.43
-18.52%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$76.2 $76.2
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.52 $3.52
$3.19 $3.19
10.34%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.64 $1.64
$1.44 $1.44
13.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$28.95 $28.95
$24.54 $24.54
17.97%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.89 $0.89
$1.04 $1.04
-14.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.8K $29.8K
$32K $32K
-6.87%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26K $26K
$26.4K $26.4K
-1.70%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kauai, Hawaii
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$186 $186
$186 $186
-0.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$52.8 $52.8
$62.7 $62.7
-15.82%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$68.6 $68.6
$66 $66
3.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kauai, Hawaii
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.28 $42.28
$75.1 $75.1
-43.66%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$12.92 $12.92
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.29 $13.29
$14.95 $14.95
-11.10%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kauai, Hawaii
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,318 $1,318
$2,046 $2,046
-35.59%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.3K $23.3K
$38.7K $38.7K
-39.89%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kauai, Hawaii
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.5 $51.5
$64.9 $64.9
-20.58%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.22 $40.22
$52 $52
-22.71%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88 $88
$95.6 $95.6
-7.96%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114 $114
$143 $143
-20.29%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kauai, Hawaii
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,622 $1,622
$2,330 $2,330
-30.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,356 $1,356
$1,591 $1,591
-14.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,593 $2,593
$4,654 $4,654
-44.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,260 $2,260
$2,777 $2,777
-18.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,730 $2,730
$3,674 $3,674
-25.70%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,469 $2,469
$2,686 $2,686
-8.09%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kauai, Hawaii
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$5,293 $5,293
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.51
6.6
-1.36%

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

Last update for Kauai, Hawaii: November 29, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: November 29, 2025

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