Cost of Living Comparison Between Monroe, LA and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Monroe, LA and Chicago, IL

🙂 Solo nomad: Monroe, LA is 29.6% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 41.7% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Monroe, LA is 37.8% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 34.5% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Monroe, LA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.83 $14.83
$20.82 $20.82
-28.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$39.87 $39.87
$100 $100
-60.27%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.17 $10.17
$11.97 $11.97
-15.04%
Cappuccino
$3.09 $3.09
$5.56 $5.56
-44.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03 $2.03
$3.11 $3.11
-34.73%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.29 $1.29
$2.42 $2.42
-46.69%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.99 $4.99
$6.86 $6.86
-27.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.61 $6.61
$8.45 $8.45
-21.78%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Monroe, LA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.25 $1.25
$1.04 $1.04
20.19%
White Bread (500g)
$2.72 $2.72
$4.15 $4.15
-34.46%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.27 $2.27
$5.52 $5.52
-58.88%
Eggs
$3.03 $3.03
$4.65 $4.65
-34.84%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.62 $8.62
$14.33 $14.33
-39.85%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.75 $7.75
$14.88 $14.88
-47.92%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.75 $14.75
$19.34 $19.34
-23.73%
Apples (1kg)
$5.48 $5.48
$5.17 $5.17
6.00%
Banana (1kg)
$2.1 $2.1
$1.71 $1.71
22.81%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.29 $5.29
$4.41 $4.41
19.95%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.87 $3.87
$4.51 $4.51
-14.19%
Potato (1kg)
$2.99 $2.99
$2.53 $2.53
18.18%
Onion (1kg)
$2.79 $2.79
$2.74 $2.74
1.82%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.46 $1.46
$2.43 $2.43
-39.92%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.77 $1.77
$2.7 $2.7
-34.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.54 $7.54
$15.19 $15.19
-50.36%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.06 $15.06
$16.42 $16.42
-8.28%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.81 $1.81
$2.35 $2.35
-22.98%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76 $2.76
$3.7 $3.7
-25.41%
🚌 Getting Around
Monroe, LA
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.99 $1.99
$2.53 $2.53
-21.34%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$74.1 $74.1
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.08 $4.08
$3.34 $3.34
22.16%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.26 $1.26
$1.42 $1.42
-11.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$60.8 $60.8
$25.42 $25.42
139.26%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.79 $0.79
$1.08 $1.08
-26.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.2K $37.2K
$32.4K $32.4K
14.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.9K $24.9K
$26.2K $26.2K
-5.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Monroe, LA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$136 $136
$188 $188
-27.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$45.07 $45.07
$63.7 $63.7
-29.25%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$62.1 $62.1
$65.2 $65.2
-4.77%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Monroe, LA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.54 $47.54
$76.7 $76.7
-38.03%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.08 $12.08
$14.93 $14.93
-19.09%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Monroe, LA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$799 $799
$2,063 $2,063
-61.26%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.1K $10.1K
$39.2K $39.2K
-74.11%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Monroe, LA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.46 $35.46
$64.3 $64.3
-44.86%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.14 $42.14
$52.4 $52.4
-19.56%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$62.9 $62.9
$95.2 $95.2
-33.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.7 $79.7
$145 $145
-44.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Monroe, LA
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,027 $1,027
$2,378 $2,378
-56.82%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$785 $785
$1,584 $1,584
-50.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,506 $2,506
$4,763 $4,763
-47.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,892 $1,892
$2,815 $2,815
-32.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,319 $2,319
$3,588 $3,588
-35.38%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,023 $2,023
$2,490 $2,490
-18.77%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Monroe, LA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,488 $2,488
$5,275 $5,275
-52.83%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.61
6.6
0.15%

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

Last update for Monroe, LA: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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