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

🙂 Solo nomad: Lafayette, LA is 19.9% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 21.9% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Lafayette, LA is 6.7% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 22.7% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lafayette, LA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.34 $20.34
$20.82 $20.82
-2.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$99.7 $99.7
$100 $100
-0.62%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.87 $9.87
$11.97 $11.97
-17.54%
Cappuccino
$5.06 $5.06
$5.56 $5.56
-8.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47 $2.47
$3.11 $3.11
-20.58%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.87 $1.87
$2.42 $2.42
-22.73%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.93 $3.93
$6.86 $6.86
-42.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.47 $6.47
$8.45 $8.45
-23.43%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lafayette, LA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.17 $1.17
$1.04 $1.04
12.50%
White Bread (500g)
$3.07 $3.07
$4.15 $4.15
-26.02%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.03 $5.03
$5.52 $5.52
-8.88%
Eggs
$4.46 $4.46
$4.65 $4.65
-4.09%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.31 $10.31
$14.33 $14.33
-28.05%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.29 $11.29
$14.88 $14.88
-24.13%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.6 $14.6
$19.34 $19.34
-24.51%
Apples (1kg)
$4.87 $4.87
$5.17 $5.17
-5.80%
Banana (1kg)
$1.39 $1.39
$1.71 $1.71
-18.71%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.92 $4.92
$4.41 $4.41
11.56%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.12 $5.12
$4.51 $4.51
13.53%
Potato (1kg)
$2.62 $2.62
$2.53 $2.53
3.56%
Onion (1kg)
$3.14 $3.14
$2.74 $2.74
14.60%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.74 $1.74
$2.43 $2.43
-28.40%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.79 $2.79
$2.7 $2.7
3.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.11 $8.11
$15.19 $15.19
-46.61%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.16 $15.16
$16.42 $16.42
-7.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.1 $2.1
$2.35 $2.35
-10.64%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.49 $3.49
$3.7 $3.7
-5.68%
🚌 Getting Around
Lafayette, LA
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.28 $1.28
$2.53 $2.53
-49.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$74.1 $74.1
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.95 $2.95
$3.34 $3.34
-11.68%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.03 $1.03
$1.42 $1.42
-27.46%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$34.47 $34.47
$25.42 $25.42
35.60%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.78 $0.78
$1.08 $1.08
-27.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.7K $34.7K
$32.4K $32.4K
6.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.2K $28.2K
$26.2K $26.2K
7.42%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lafayette, LA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$237 $237
$188 $188
25.86%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$51.2 $51.2
$63.7 $63.7
-19.62%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$68.5 $68.5
$65.2 $65.2
5.03%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lafayette, LA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.3 $61.3
$76.7 $76.7
-20.14%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.29 $22.29
$13.03 $13.03
71.07%
Cinema Ticket
$12.22 $12.22
$14.93 $14.93
-18.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lafayette, LA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,537 $1,537
$2,063 $2,063
-25.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.1K $10.1K
$39.2K $39.2K
-74.28%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lafayette, LA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.5 $51.5
$64.3 $64.3
-20.00%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.86 $40.86
$52.4 $52.4
-22.01%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$75 $75
$95.2 $95.2
-21.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114 $114
$145 $145
-21.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lafayette, LA
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,213 $1,213
$2,378 $2,378
-49.00%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,064 $1,064
$1,584 $1,584
-32.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,735 $1,735
$4,763 $4,763
-63.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,886 $1,886
$2,815 $2,815
-32.99%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,173 $2,173
$3,588 $3,588
-39.44%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,167 $2,167
$2,490 $2,490
-13.00%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lafayette, LA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,410 $3,410
$5,275 $5,275
-35.36%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.57
6.6
-0.45%

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

Last update for Lafayette, LA: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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