Cost of Living Comparison Between Merrillville, IN and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Merrillville, IN and Chicago, IL

🙂 Solo nomad: Merrillville, IN is 29.2% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 13.9% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Merrillville, IN is 22% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 20.7% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.86 $18.86

$20.82 $20.82

-9.41%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$65.8 $65.8

$100 $100

-34.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.91 $9.91

$11.97 $11.97

-17.21%

Cappuccino

$5.21 $5.21

$5.56 $5.56

-6.29%

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

$3.1 $3.1

$3.11 $3.11

-0.32%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.21 $2.21

$2.42 $2.42

-8.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.05 $5.05

$6.86 $6.86

-26.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.07 $7.07

$8.45 $8.45

-16.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.8 $0.8

$1.04 $1.04

-23.08%

White Bread (500g)

$3.31 $3.31

$4.15 $4.15

-20.24%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.62 $4.62

$5.52 $5.52

-16.30%

Eggs

$4.3 $4.3

$4.65 $4.65

-7.53%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.74 $9.74

$14.33 $14.33

-32.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.62 $12.62

$14.88 $14.88

-15.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.48 $15.48

$19.34 $19.34

-19.96%

Apples (1kg)

$5.86 $5.86

$5.17 $5.17

13.35%

Banana (1kg)

$1.13 $1.13

$1.71 $1.71

-33.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.7 $4.7

$4.41 $4.41

6.58%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.78 $4.78

$4.51 $4.51

5.99%

Potato (1kg)

$2.1 $2.1

$2.53 $2.53

-17.00%

Onion (1kg)

$2.19 $2.19

$2.74 $2.74

-20.07%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.95 $1.95

$2.43 $2.43

-19.75%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.69 $2.69

$2.7 $2.7

-0.37%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.47 $10.47

$15.19 $15.19

-31.07%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.88 $11.88

$16.42 $16.42

-27.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.87 $1.87

$2.35 $2.35

-20.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.42 $3.42

$3.7 $3.7

-7.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.03 $2.03

$2.53 $2.53

-19.76%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.75 $2.75

$3.34 $3.34

-17.66%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.15 $2.15

$1.42 $1.42

51.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$20.99 $20.99

$25.42 $25.42

-17.43%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.85 $0.85

$1.08 $1.08

-21.30%

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

$29.5K $29.5K

$32.4K $32.4K

-8.87%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$26.2K $26.2K

-2.07%

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

$187 $187

$188 $188

-0.90%

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

$48.29 $48.29

$63.7 $63.7

-24.19%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.8 $63.8

$65.2 $65.2

-2.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.81 $43.81

$76.7 $76.7

-42.90%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$15.01 $15.01

$14.93 $14.93

0.54%

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

$1,795 $1,795

$2,063 $2,063

-12.96%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.5K $24.5K

$39.2K $39.2K

-37.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$43.48 $43.48

$64.3 $64.3

-32.39%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.32 $45.32

$52.4 $52.4

-13.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.7 $80.7

$95.2 $95.2

-15.24%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 $106

$145 $145

-26.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,619 $1,619

$2,378 $2,378

-31.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,346 $1,346

$1,584 $1,584

-15.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,646 $2,646

$4,763 $4,763

-44.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,219 $2,219

$2,815 $2,815

-21.15%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,730 $2,730

$3,588 $3,588

-23.92%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,701 $2,701

$2,490 $2,490

8.45%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.55

6.6

-0.76%

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

Last update for Merrillville, IN: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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