Cost of Living Comparison Between Melbourne, AR and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Melbourne, AR and Chicago, IL

🙂 Solo nomad: Melbourne, AR is 18.4% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 11.7% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Melbourne, AR is 5.1% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 17.7% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$21.59 $21.59

$20.82 $20.82

3.70%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$83.6 $83.6

$100 $100

-16.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.09 $11.09

$11.97 $11.97

-7.35%

Cappuccino

$5.66 $5.66

$5.56 $5.56

1.80%

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

$2.71 $2.71

$3.11 $3.11

-12.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.12 $2.12

$2.42 $2.42

-12.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.97 $5.97

$6.86 $6.86

-12.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.52 $6.52

$8.45 $8.45

-22.84%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.13 $1.13

$1.04 $1.04

8.65%

White Bread (500g)

$3.11 $3.11

$4.15 $4.15

-25.06%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.46 $6.46

$5.52 $5.52

17.03%

Eggs

$4.64 $4.64

$4.65 $4.65

-0.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$18.22 $18.22

$14.33 $14.33

27.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.04 $16.04

$14.88 $14.88

7.80%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.14 $16.14

$19.34 $19.34

-16.55%

Apples (1kg)

$4.59 $4.59

$5.17 $5.17

-11.22%

Banana (1kg)

$1.33 $1.33

$1.71 $1.71

-22.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.52 $3.52

$4.41 $4.41

-20.18%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.65 $2.65

$4.51 $4.51

-41.24%

Potato (1kg)

$2.3 $2.3

$2.53 $2.53

-9.09%

Onion (1kg)

$2.54 $2.54

$2.74 $2.74

-7.30%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.88 $1.88

$2.43 $2.43

-22.63%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.8 $2.8

$2.7 $2.7

3.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.96 $9.96

$15.19 $15.19

-34.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$26.41 $26.41

$16.42 $16.42

60.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 $1.86

$2.35 $2.35

-20.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.03 $3.03

$3.7 $3.7

-18.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.97 $1.97

$2.53 $2.53

-22.13%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.45 $3.45

$3.34 $3.34

3.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.41 $1.41

$1.42 $1.42

-0.70%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.68 $28.68

$25.42 $25.42

12.82%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.75 $0.75

$1.08 $1.08

-30.56%

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

$31.2K $31.2K

$32.4K $32.4K

-3.63%

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

$34.1K $34.1K

$26.2K $26.2K

30.06%

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

$193 $193

$188 $188

2.42%

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

$48.3 $48.3

$63.7 $63.7

-24.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.5 $67.5

$65.2 $65.2

3.54%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.49 $43.49

$76.7 $76.7

-43.31%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$15.06 $15.06

$14.93 $14.93

0.87%

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

$1,284 $1,284

$2,063 $2,063

-37.73%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.9K $23.9K

$39.2K $39.2K

-39.00%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.85 $46.85

$64.3 $64.3

-27.15%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.67 $38.67

$52.4 $52.4

-26.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$67.7 $67.7

$95.2 $95.2

-28.89%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.7 $69.7

$145 $145

-51.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,620 $1,620

$2,378 $2,378

-31.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,332 $1,332

$1,584 $1,584

-15.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,600 $2,600

$4,763 $4,763

-45.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,205 $2,205

$2,815 $2,815

-21.68%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,577 $2,577

$3,588 $3,588

-28.17%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,550 $2,550

$2,490 $2,490

2.39%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.56

6.6

-0.61%

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

Last update for Melbourne, AR: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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