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

๐Ÿ™‚ Solo nomad: Louisville, KY is 18.4% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 22.2% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ™‚ Family of 3: Louisville, KY is 20.1% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 21.7% cheaper with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Louisville, KY
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.99 $17.99
$20.82 $20.82
-13.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$78.6 $78.6
$100 $100
-21.68%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.19 $10.19
$11.97 $11.97
-14.87%
Cappuccino
$5.07 $5.07
$5.56 $5.56
-8.81%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.41 $2.41
$3.11 $3.11
-22.51%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04 $2.04
$2.42 $2.42
-15.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.03 $6.03
$6.86 $6.86
-12.10%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.64 $7.64
$8.45 $8.45
-9.59%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Louisville, KY
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.55 $0.55
$1.04 $1.04
-47.12%
White Bread (500g)
$2.82 $2.82
$4.15 $4.15
-32.05%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.3 $5.3
$5.52 $5.52
-3.99%
Eggs
$3.2 $3.2
$4.65 $4.65
-31.18%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.43 $15.43
$14.33 $14.33
7.68%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.32 $12.32
$14.88 $14.88
-17.20%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.68 $14.68
$19.34 $19.34
-24.10%
Apples (1kg)
$5.45 $5.45
$5.17 $5.17
5.42%
Banana (1kg)
$1.52 $1.52
$1.71 $1.71
-11.11%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.09 $4.09
$4.41 $4.41
-7.26%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.65 $5.65
$4.51 $4.51
25.28%
Potato (1kg)
$2.76 $2.76
$2.53 $2.53
9.09%
Onion (1kg)
$2.72 $2.72
$2.74 $2.74
-0.73%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.95 $1.95
$2.43 $2.43
-19.75%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.98 $1.98
$2.7 $2.7
-26.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9 $9
$15.19 $15.19
-40.75%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.75 $14.75
$16.42 $16.42
-10.17%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.64 $2.64
$2.35 $2.35
12.34%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.33 $3.33
$3.7 $3.7
-10.00%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Louisville, KY
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.73 $1.73
$2.53 $2.53
-31.62%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$50.1 $50.1
$74.1 $74.1
-32.42%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.79 $2.79
$3.34 $3.34
-16.47%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.37 $1.37
$1.42 $1.42
-3.52%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.41 $29.41
$25.42 $25.42
15.70%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.9 $0.9
$1.08 $1.08
-16.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.4K $34.4K
$32.4K $32.4K
6.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27K $27K
$26.2K $26.2K
3.00%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Louisville, KY
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$239 $239
$188 $188
26.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$57.8 $57.8
$63.7 $63.7
-9.32%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$61.7 $61.7
$65.2 $65.2
-5.35%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Louisville, KY
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$21.89 $21.89
$76.7 $76.7
-71.47%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.08 $10.08
$13.03 $13.03
-22.64%
Cinema Ticket
$11.92 $11.92
$14.93 $14.93
-20.16%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Louisville, KY
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,266 $1,266
$2,063 $2,063
-38.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.4K $13.4K
$39.2K $39.2K
-65.81%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Louisville, KY
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$48.63 $48.63
$64.3 $64.3
-24.38%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.58 $44.58
$52.4 $52.4
-14.91%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.2 $86.2
$95.2 $95.2
-9.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$94.4 $94.4
$145 $145
-34.78%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Louisville, KY
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,211 $1,211
$2,378 $2,378
-49.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,056 $1,056
$1,584 $1,584
-33.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,121 $2,121
$4,763 $4,763
-55.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,982 $1,982
$2,815 $2,815
-29.58%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,329 $3,329
$3,588 $3,588
-7.22%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,984 $2,984
$2,490 $2,490
19.83%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Louisville, KY
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,945 $3,945
$5,275 $5,275
-25.22%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.61
6.6
0.15%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Louisville, KY: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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