Cost of Living Comparison Between Meridian, MS and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Meridian, MS and Chicago, IL

🙂 Solo nomad: Meridian, MS is 13.7% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 9.7% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Meridian, MS is 8.2% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 14.7% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.56 $25.56

$20.82 $20.82

22.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$123 $123

$100 $100

22.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.18 $12.18

$11.97 $11.97

1.75%

Cappuccino

$5.58 $5.58

$5.56 $5.56

0.36%

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

$2.03 $2.03

$3.11 $3.11

-34.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.12 $2.12

$2.42 $2.42

-12.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.03 $6.03

$6.86 $6.86

-12.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.03 $8.03

$8.45 $8.45

-4.97%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.97 $0.97

$1.04 $1.04

-6.73%

White Bread (500g)

$3.92 $3.92

$4.15 $4.15

-5.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.07 $2.07

$5.52 $5.52

-62.50%

Eggs

$3.86 $3.86

$4.65 $4.65

-16.99%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.93 $14.93

$14.33 $14.33

4.19%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.68 $8.68

$14.88 $14.88

-41.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.44 $14.44

$19.34 $19.34

-25.34%

Apples (1kg)

$3.04 $3.04

$5.17 $5.17

-41.20%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 $1.07

$1.71 $1.71

-37.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.77 $2.77

$4.41 $4.41

-37.19%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.33 $4.33

$4.51 $4.51

-3.99%

Potato (1kg)

$1.89 $1.89

$2.53 $2.53

-25.30%

Onion (1kg)

$3.15 $3.15

$2.74 $2.74

14.96%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.05 $2.05

$2.43 $2.43

-15.64%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.06 $3.06

$2.7 $2.7

13.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.19 $7.19

$15.19 $15.19

-52.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.28 $17.28

$16.42 $16.42

5.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.04 $2.04

$2.35 $2.35

-13.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.48 $3.48

$3.7 $3.7

-5.95%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.96 $1.96

$2.53 $2.53

-22.53%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.43 $3.43

$3.34 $3.34

2.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.45 $1.45

$1.42 $1.42

2.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.64 $35.64

$25.42 $25.42

40.20%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.76 $0.76

$1.08 $1.08

-29.63%

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

$35.5K $35.5K

$32.4K $32.4K

9.61%

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

$28.8K $28.8K

$26.2K $26.2K

9.68%

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

$236 $236

$188 $188

25.50%

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

$58 $58

$63.7 $63.7

-9.01%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$70.4 $70.4

$65.2 $65.2

7.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.72 $42.72

$76.7 $76.7

-44.32%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$12.95 $12.95

$14.93 $14.93

-13.26%

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

$605 $605

$2,063 $2,063

-70.68%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.4K $10.4K

$39.2K $39.2K

-73.45%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.1 $53.1

$64.3 $64.3

-17.42%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.88 $40.88

$52.4 $52.4

-21.97%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.3 $75.3

$95.2 $95.2

-20.93%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 $113

$145 $145

-22.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,583 $1,583

$2,378 $2,378

-33.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,347 $1,347

$1,584 $1,584

-14.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,621 $2,621

$4,763 $4,763

-44.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,214 $2,214

$2,815 $2,815

-21.34%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,145 $3,145

$3,588 $3,588

-12.34%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,798 $2,798

$2,490 $2,490

12.36%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,204 $4,204

$5,275 $5,275

-20.30%

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 Meridian, MS: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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