Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Loveland, CO and Chicago, IL

For one person, living is cheaper in Loveland, CO: $2,913 a month against $3,139 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $2,700 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

141

Cost of Living Index in Loveland, CO
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Loveland, CO Living Index
152

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
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Chicago, IL Living Index

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Loveland, CO

🇺🇸 United States

$2,913

/mo nomad

Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,139

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Loveland, CO 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 Loveland, CO and in Chicago, IL actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,913 per month in Loveland, CO vs $3,139 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Loveland, CO $2,913
Chicago, IL $3,139

A couple spends around $4,012 per month in Loveland, CO vs $4,627 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Loveland, CO $4,012
Chicago, IL $4,627

A family of three spends $5,112 per month in Loveland, CO vs $6,115 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Loveland, CO $5,112
Chicago, IL $6,115

Loveland, CO is about 7% cheaper than Chicago, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Loveland, CO and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – Loveland, CO by 115%, Chicago, IL by 132%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.76 $20.76

$20.65 $20.65

0.53%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$86.0 $86.0

$90.2 $90.2

-4.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.19 $12.19

$12.94 $12.94

-5.80%

Cappuccino

$6.17 $6.17

$5.60 $5.60

10.18%

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

$3.08 $3.08

$2.64 $2.64

16.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.21 $2.21

$2.27 $2.27

-2.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.15 $7.15

$6.98 $6.98

2.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.85 $6.85

$8.83 $8.83

-22.42%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.02 $1.02

$1.27 $1.27

-19.69%

White Bread (500g)

$5.05 $5.05

$3.80 $3.80

32.89%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.52 $2.52

$5.30 $5.30

-52.45%

Eggs

$5.23 $5.23

$4.76 $4.76

9.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.90 $13.90

$13.96 $13.96

-0.43%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.46 $10.46

$14.61 $14.61

-28.41%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.01 $14.01

$18.77 $18.77

-25.36%

Apples (1kg)

$4.98 $4.98

$5.19 $5.19

-4.05%

Banana (1kg)

$1.38 $1.38

$1.98 $1.98

-30.30%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.91 $2.91

$3.93 $3.93

-25.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.37 $3.37

$4.96 $4.96

-32.06%

Potato (1kg)

$2.06 $2.06

$2.76 $2.76

-25.36%

Onion (1kg)

$2.26 $2.26

$2.76 $2.76

-18.12%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.37 $2.37

$2.22 $2.22

6.76%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.33 $2.33

$2.98 $2.98

-21.81%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.10 $10.10

$14.02 $14.02

-27.96%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.74 $15.74

$15.28 $15.28

3.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.54 $2.54

$2.58 $2.58

-1.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 $1.97

$3.50 $3.50

-43.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.98 $0.98

$2.47 $2.47

-60.32%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.56 $29.56

$74.8 $74.8

-60.46%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.45 $3.45

$3.34 $3.34

3.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.16 $1.16

$1.43 $1.43

-18.88%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.53 $30.53

$24.32 $24.32

25.53%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 $0.95

$1.26 $1.26

-24.60%

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

$30.0K $30.0K

$35.0K $35.0K

-14.43%

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

$26.9K $26.9K

$26.1K $26.1K

3.01%

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

$165 $165

$193 $193

-14.37%

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

$78.2 $78.2

$68.3 $68.3

14.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$71.7 $71.7

$61.3 $61.3

16.97%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.75 $32.75

$54.1 $54.1

-39.49%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.92 $27.92

Cinema Ticket

$14.86 $14.86

$17.74 $17.74

-16.23%

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

$1,684 $1,684

$1,652 $1,652

1.98%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,530 $6,530

$31.1K $31.1K

-78.98%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.0 $61.0

$66.1 $66.1

-7.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.7 $50.7

$51.2 $51.2

-1.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.7 $85.7

$100 $100

-14.45%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$116 $116

$141 $141

-17.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,711 $1,711

$2,446 $2,446

-30.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,619 $1,619

$1,678 $1,678

-3.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,513 $2,513

$4,717 $4,717

-46.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,186 $2,186

$2,795 $2,795

-21.78%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,105 $4,105

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,650 $2,650

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,429 $4,429

$4,866 $4,866

-8.97%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.86

6.81

0.73%

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

Last update for Loveland, CO: October 19, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Loveland, CO

$1.6K 55.6%

Chicago, IL

$1.7K 53.5% 3.6% $59

Groceries & Markets

Loveland, CO

$386 13.2%

Chicago, IL

$449 14.3% 16.5% $64

Eating Out

Loveland, CO

$347 11.9%

Chicago, IL

$343 10.9% 1.1% $3.9

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Loveland, CO

$315 10.8%

Chicago, IL

$322 10.3% 2.3% $7.4

Clothing & Footwear

Loveland, CO

$141 4.8%

Chicago, IL

$161 5.1% 14.3% $20

Sport & Entertainment

Loveland, CO

$62 2.1%

Chicago, IL

$90 2.9% 43.4% $27

Getting Around

Loveland, CO

$43 1.5%

Chicago, IL

$95 3% 123% $52

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,711 in Loveland, CO versus $2,446 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 10% higher in Chicago, IL, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $86.0 in Loveland, CO versus $90.0 in Chicago, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $386 vs $449 – making Loveland, CO the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Loveland, CO

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🕒 Local time

19:24 7:24 PM

20:24 8:24 PM

1 h ahead of Loveland, CO

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

61,122

2,746,388

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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Between locations

Loveland, CO Chicago, IL 1,470 km ≈ 2 h 15 min nonstop flight

From you

Loveland, CO
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

Loveland, CO vs Chicago, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,913 in Loveland, CO, $3,139 in Chicago, IL – roughly 8% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,369 per month in Loveland, CO and $4,708 in Chicago, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Loveland, CO, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 17% 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $86.0 in Loveland, CO and $90.0 in Chicago, IL. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,913 in Loveland, CO and $3,139 in Chicago, IL. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,913 in Loveland, CO to $3,139 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Loveland, CO. 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.