Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Kokomo, IN and Chicago, IL

For one person, living is cheaper in Kokomo, IN: $2,013 a month against $3,185 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $14,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Kokomo, IN
🇺🇸 United States
$2,013
/mo nomad
Chicago, IL
🇺🇸 United States
$3,185
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Kokomo, IN and in Chicago, IL

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Kokomo, IN and in Chicago, IL actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,013 per month in Kokomo, IN vs $3,185 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

  • Kokomo, IN $2,013
  • Chicago, IL $3,185

A couple spends around $2,867 per month in Kokomo, IN vs $4,631 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

  • Kokomo, IN $2,867
  • Chicago, IL $4,631

A family of three spends $3,720 per month in Kokomo, IN vs $6,077 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

  • Kokomo, IN $3,720
  • Chicago, IL $6,077

Kokomo, IN is about 37% cheaper than Chicago, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Kokomo, IN and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – Kokomo, IN by 49%, Chicago, IL by 136%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kokomo, IN
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.80 $13.80
$21.58 $21.58
-36.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.3 $69.3
$88.7 $88.7
-21.79%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.08 $10.08
$13.20 $13.20
-23.64%
Cappuccino
$4.12 $4.12
$5.59 $5.59
-26.30%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48 $2.48
$2.63 $2.63
-5.70%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.82 $1.82
$2.26 $2.26
-19.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.79 $6.79
$7.11 $7.11
-4.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.52 $4.52
$9.23 $9.23
-51.03%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kokomo, IN
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.74 $0.74
$1.28 $1.28
-42.19%
White Bread (500g)
$2.75 $2.75
$3.84 $3.84
-28.39%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.89 $1.89
$5.07 $5.07
-62.72%
Eggs
$3.17 $3.17
$4.84 $4.84
-34.50%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.63 $6.63
$14.17 $14.17
-53.21%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.55 $15.55
$14.61 $14.61
6.43%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.78 $16.78
$18.76 $18.76
-10.55%
Apples (1kg)
$4.64 $4.64
$5.19 $5.19
-10.60%
Banana (1kg)
$1.24 $1.24
$2.00 $2.00
-38.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.26 $3.26
$4.00 $4.00
-18.50%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.80 $3.80
$4.98 $4.98
-23.69%
Potato (1kg)
$2.71 $2.71
$2.79 $2.79
-2.87%
Onion (1kg)
$2.57 $2.57
$2.65 $2.65
-3.02%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.13 $2.13
$2.13 $2.13
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.28 $1.28
$3.09 $3.09
-58.58%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.48 $7.48
$16.05 $16.05
-53.40%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.72 $19.72
$15.20 $15.20
29.74%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 $1.71
$2.62 $2.62
-34.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.05 $6.05
$3.46 $3.46
74.86%
🚌 Getting Around
Kokomo, IN
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$2.47 $2.47
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$75.1 $75.1
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
-
$3.21 $3.21
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.19 $3.19
$1.39 $1.39
129.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$14.91 $14.91
$25.02 $25.02
-40.41%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.87 $0.87
$1.24 $1.24
-29.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.6K $36.6K
$37.2K $37.2K
-1.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.8K $25.8K
$25.8K $25.8K
-0.26%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kokomo, IN
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$200 $200
$192 $192
3.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$51.3 $51.3
$67.8 $67.8
-24.37%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$57.7 $57.7
$60.9 $60.9
-5.17%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kokomo, IN
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$19.82 $19.82
$53.6 $53.6
-63.00%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$27.90 $27.90
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.99 $13.99
$17.80 $17.80
-21.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kokomo, IN
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$533 $533
$1,554 $1,554
-65.68%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,507 $6,507
$31.4K $31.4K
-79.25%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kokomo, IN
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$39.32 $39.32
$67.9 $67.9
-42.07%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.77 $47.77
$50.8 $50.8
-5.89%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$69.5 $69.5
$101 $101
-31.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119 $119
$143 $143
-16.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kokomo, IN
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$848 $848
$2,383 $2,383
-64.42%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$903 $903
$1,712 $1,712
-47.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,428 $1,428
$4,674 $4,674
-69.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,284 $1,284
$2,738 $2,738
-53.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,315 $1,315
$4,158 $4,158
-68.37%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,323 $1,323
$2,691 $2,691
-50.83%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kokomo, IN
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,604 $5,604
$4,894 $4,894
14.50%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6
6.77
-11.37%

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

Last update for Kokomo, IN: October 11, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Kokomo, IN
$903
Chicago, IL
$1.7K 89.6% $809
Groceries & Markets
Kokomo, IN
$363
Chicago, IL
$451 24.3% $88
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kokomo, IN
$309
Chicago, IL
$321 3.9% $12
Eating Out
Kokomo, IN
$250
Chicago, IL
$353 41% $103
Clothing & Footwear
Kokomo, IN
$124
Chicago, IL
$164 31.6% $39
Sport & Entertainment
Kokomo, IN
$48
Chicago, IL
$89 86.6% $41
Getting Around
Kokomo, IN
$16 *
Chicago, IL
$95 496% $79

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $848 in Kokomo, IN versus $2,383 in Chicago, IL. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 15% higher in Kokomo, IN, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $69.0 in Kokomo, IN versus $89.0 in Chicago, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $363 vs $451 – making Kokomo, IN the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Kokomo, IN
🇺🇸 Chicago, IL
🕒 Local time
01:01 1:01 AM
00:01 12:01 AM
1 h behind Kokomo, IN
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
57,000
2,746,388
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Kokomo, IN Chicago, IL 200 km
From you
  • Kokomo, IN
  • Chicago, IL

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Kokomo, IN vs Chicago, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Kokomo, IN and in Chicago, IL compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,013 in Kokomo, IN, $3,185 in Chicago, IL – roughly 58% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in eating out.
What salary covers living expenses in Kokomo, IN compared to Chicago, IL?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,020 per month in Kokomo, IN and $4,777 in Chicago, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Kokomo, IN and Chicago, IL?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Kokomo, IN, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $69.0 in Kokomo, IN and $89.0 in Chicago, IL. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 24% more in Chicago, IL, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Kokomo, IN, where all-in costs run around $2,013, than in Chicago, IL at $3,185. In Kokomo, IN it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chicago, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Kokomo, IN and Chicago, IL?
It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,013 in Kokomo, IN to $3,185 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Kokomo, IN or Chicago, IL safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Kokomo, IN and Chicago, IL?
If budget matters most, go with Kokomo, IN. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chicago, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Kokomo, IN vs other spots: cost of living compared

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