Cost of Living Comparison Between Lexington, KY and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Lexington, KY and Chicago, IL

🙂 Solo nomad: Lexington, KY is 29% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 25.5% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Lexington, KY is 16.4% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 28.5% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.8 $14.8

$20.82 $20.82

-28.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$70.3 $70.3

$100 $100

-29.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.02 $10.02

$11.97 $11.97

-16.29%

Cappuccino

$4.99 $4.99

$5.56 $5.56

-10.25%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.23 $2.23

$3.11 $3.11

-28.30%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.82 $1.82

$2.42 $2.42

-24.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.81 $4.81

$6.86 $6.86

-29.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.09 $8.09

$8.45 $8.45

-4.26%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.78 $0.78

$1.04 $1.04

-25.00%

White Bread (500g)

$2.98 $2.98

$4.15 $4.15

-28.19%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.59 $4.59

$5.52 $5.52

-16.85%

Eggs

$3.24 $3.24

$4.65 $4.65

-30.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.91 $12.91

$14.33 $14.33

-9.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.37 $11.37

$14.88 $14.88

-23.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.31 $16.31

$19.34 $19.34

-15.67%

Apples (1kg)

$4.68 $4.68

$5.17 $5.17

-9.48%

Banana (1kg)

$1.25 $1.25

$1.71 $1.71

-26.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.63 $3.63

$4.41 $4.41

-17.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.35 $4.35

$4.51 $4.51

-3.55%

Potato (1kg)

$3.41 $3.41

$2.53 $2.53

34.78%

Onion (1kg)

$3.32 $3.32

$2.74 $2.74

21.17%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 $2.04

$2.43 $2.43

-16.05%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.8 $1.8

$2.7 $2.7

-33.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.16 $8.16

$15.19 $15.19

-46.28%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.07 $13.07

$16.42 $16.42

-20.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.79 $2.79

$2.35 $2.35

18.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.17 $3.17

$3.7 $3.7

-14.32%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.98 $0.98

$2.53 $2.53

-61.26%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.96 $29.96

$74.1 $74.1

-59.58%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.96 $4.96

$3.34 $3.34

48.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.67 $1.67

$1.42 $1.42

17.61%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.63 $29.63

$25.42 $25.42

16.56%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.83 $0.83

$1.08 $1.08

-23.15%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$22.8K $22.8K

$32.4K $32.4K

-29.55%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$25.9K $25.9K

$26.2K $26.2K

-1.38%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$205 $205

$188 $188

8.98%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$71.6 $71.6

$63.7 $63.7

12.46%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$68.3 $68.3

$65.2 $65.2

4.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.3 $35.3

$76.7 $76.7

-53.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.73 $29.73

$13.03 $13.03

128.17%

Cinema Ticket

$15.27 $15.27

$14.93 $14.93

2.28%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,170 $1,170

$2,063 $2,063

-43.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.9K $24.9K

$39.2K $39.2K

-36.32%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.6 $58.6

$64.3 $64.3

-8.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.31 $35.31

$52.4 $52.4

-32.60%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 $101

$95.2 $95.2

5.70%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$156 $156

$145 $145

7.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,131 $1,131

$2,378 $2,378

-52.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,022 $1,022

$1,584 $1,584

-35.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,088 $2,088

$4,763 $4,763

-56.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,685 $1,685

$2,815 $2,815

-40.14%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,059 $2,059

$3,588 $3,588

-42.62%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,986 $1,986

$2,490 $2,490

-20.24%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,783 $3,783

$5,275 $5,275

-28.29%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.67

6.6

1.06%

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

Last update for Lexington, KY: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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