Cost of Living Comparison Between Kearney, NE and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Kearney, NE and Chicago, IL

🙂 Solo nomad: Kearney, NE is 28% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 32.5% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Kearney, NE is 25.7% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 42.4% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kearney, NE
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.22 $15.22
$20.82 $20.82
-26.90%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$59.4 $59.4
$100 $100
-40.80%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.56 $11.56
$11.97 $11.97
-3.43%
Cappuccino
$5.2 $5.2
$5.56 $5.56
-6.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14 $2.14
$3.11 $3.11
-31.19%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99 $1.99
$2.42 $2.42
-17.77%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.93 $3.93
$6.86 $6.86
-42.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.14 $5.14
$8.45 $8.45
-39.17%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kearney, NE
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.87 $0.87
$1.04 $1.04
-16.35%
White Bread (500g)
$1.63 $1.63
$4.15 $4.15
-60.72%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.84 $3.84
$5.52 $5.52
-30.43%
Eggs
$3.3 $3.3
$4.65 $4.65
-29.03%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.79 $8.79
$14.33 $14.33
-38.66%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.67 $6.67
$14.88 $14.88
-55.17%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.51 $15.51
$19.34 $19.34
-19.80%
Apples (1kg)
$6.66 $6.66
$5.17 $5.17
28.82%
Banana (1kg)
$2.17 $2.17
$1.71 $1.71
26.90%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.88 $5.88
$4.41 $4.41
33.33%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.94 $4.94
$4.51 $4.51
9.53%
Potato (1kg)
$1.77 $1.77
$2.53 $2.53
-30.04%
Onion (1kg)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.74 $2.74
-1.46%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.98 $1.98
$2.43 $2.43
-18.52%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.47 $2.47
$2.7 $2.7
-8.52%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.47 $9.47
$15.19 $15.19
-37.66%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.77 $14.77
$16.42 $16.42
-10.05%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74 $1.74
$2.35 $2.35
-25.96%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97 $1.97
$3.7 $3.7
-46.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Kearney, NE
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.05 $2.05
$2.53 $2.53
-18.97%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$74.1 $74.1
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.94 $2.94
$3.34 $3.34
-11.98%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.34 $1.34
$1.42 $1.42
-5.63%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$24.82 $24.82
$25.42 $25.42
-2.36%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.87 $0.87
$1.08 $1.08
-19.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24K $24K
$32.4K $32.4K
-26.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26K $26K
$26.2K $26.2K
-0.90%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kearney, NE
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$325 $325
$188 $188
72.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$52.2 $52.2
$63.7 $63.7
-18.02%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.8 $65.8
$65.2 $65.2
0.94%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kearney, NE
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$56 $56
$76.7 $76.7
-27.06%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.87 $5.87
$13.03 $13.03
-54.95%
Cinema Ticket
$12.36 $12.36
$14.93 $14.93
-17.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kearney, NE
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$903 $903
$2,063 $2,063
-56.21%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$25.1K $25.1K
$39.2K $39.2K
-36.06%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kearney, NE
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$30.38 $30.38
$64.3 $64.3
-52.76%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.01 $38.01
$52.4 $52.4
-27.45%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.6 $96.6
$95.2 $95.2
1.44%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$112 $112
$145 $145
-22.49%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kearney, NE
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$912 $912
$2,378 $2,378
-61.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$722 $722
$1,584 $1,584
-54.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,661 $2,661
$4,763 $4,763
-44.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,050 $1,050
$2,815 $2,815
-62.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,395 $1,395
$3,588 $3,588
-61.12%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,402 $1,402
$2,490 $2,490
-43.69%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kearney, NE
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$7,439 $7,439
$5,275 $5,275
41.02%
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 Kearney, NE: October 27, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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