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

🙂 Solo nomad: Lafayette, IN is 24.3% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 24.3% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Lafayette, IN is 35% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 34.7% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lafayette, IN
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.89 $14.89
$20.82 $20.82
-28.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.9 $58.9
$100 $100
-41.29%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.86 $7.86
$11.97 $11.97
-34.34%
Cappuccino
$4.45 $4.45
$5.56 $5.56
-19.96%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13 $2.13
$3.11 $3.11
-31.51%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.1 $2.1
$2.42 $2.42
-13.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.09 $5.09
$6.86 $6.86
-25.80%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.1 $7.1
$8.45 $8.45
-15.98%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lafayette, IN
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.77 $0.77
$1.04 $1.04
-25.96%
White Bread (500g)
$3.15 $3.15
$4.15 $4.15
-24.10%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.86 $3.86
$5.52 $5.52
-30.07%
Eggs
$3.08 $3.08
$4.65 $4.65
-33.76%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.31 $10.31
$14.33 $14.33
-28.05%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.27 $9.27
$14.88 $14.88
-37.70%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.34 $15.34
$19.34 $19.34
-20.68%
Apples (1kg)
$4.16 $4.16
$5.17 $5.17
-19.54%
Banana (1kg)
$1.37 $1.37
$1.71 $1.71
-19.88%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.02 $4.02
$4.41 $4.41
-8.84%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.79 $4.79
$4.51 $4.51
6.21%
Potato (1kg)
$2.02 $2.02
$2.53 $2.53
-20.16%
Onion (1kg)
$2.94 $2.94
$2.74 $2.74
7.30%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.68 $1.68
$2.43 $2.43
-30.86%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.33 $1.33
$2.7 $2.7
-50.74%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.79 $7.79
$15.19 $15.19
-48.72%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.95 $12.95
$16.42 $16.42
-21.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74 $1.74
$2.35 $2.35
-25.96%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75 $1.75
$3.7 $3.7
-52.70%
🚌 Getting Around
Lafayette, IN
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.48 $1.48
$2.53 $2.53
-41.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$39.37 $39.37
$74.1 $74.1
-46.89%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.65 $3.65
$3.34 $3.34
9.28%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.74 $1.74
$1.42 $1.42
22.54%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$20.9 $20.9
$25.42 $25.42
-17.78%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.81 $0.81
$1.08 $1.08
-25.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.9K $34.9K
$32.4K $32.4K
7.68%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.3K $25.3K
$26.2K $26.2K
-3.64%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lafayette, IN
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$120 $120
$188 $188
-36.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$56 $56
$63.7 $63.7
-12.06%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$57.4 $57.4
$65.2 $65.2
-11.99%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lafayette, IN
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$32.69 $32.69
$76.7 $76.7
-57.39%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.83 $24.83
$13.03 $13.03
90.56%
Cinema Ticket
$11.1 $11.1
$14.93 $14.93
-25.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lafayette, IN
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,430 $1,430
$2,063 $2,063
-30.65%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.6K $17.6K
$39.2K $39.2K
-55.00%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lafayette, IN
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$40.47 $40.47
$64.3 $64.3
-37.07%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.44 $40.44
$52.4 $52.4
-22.81%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.9 $88.9
$95.2 $95.2
-6.64%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.9 $90.9
$145 $145
-37.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lafayette, IN
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,173 $1,173
$2,378 $2,378
-50.66%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,230 $1,230
$1,584 $1,584
-22.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,015 $2,015
$4,763 $4,763
-57.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,650 $1,650
$2,815 $2,815
-41.39%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,715 $1,715
$3,588 $3,588
-52.20%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,648 $1,648
$2,490 $2,490
-33.82%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lafayette, IN
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,038 $3,038
$5,275 $5,275
-42.40%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.45
6.6
-2.27%

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

Last update for Lafayette, IN: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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