Cost of Living Comparison Between Normal, IL and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Normal, IL and Chicago, IL

๐Ÿ™‚ Solo nomad: Normal, IL is 31.6% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 36.5% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ™‚ Family of 3: Normal, IL is 30.4% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 25.1% cheaper with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Normal, IL
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.08 $10.08
$20.82 $20.82
-51.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$50.4 $50.4
$100 $100
-49.81%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.18 $10.18
$11.97 $11.97
-14.95%
Cappuccino
$5.07 $5.07
$5.56 $5.56
-8.81%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.12 $3.12
$3.11 $3.11
0.32%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17 $2.17
$2.42 $2.42
-10.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.98 $4.98
$6.86 $6.86
-27.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.82 $6.82
$8.45 $8.45
-19.29%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Normal, IL
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.84 $0.84
$1.04 $1.04
-19.23%
White Bread (500g)
$2.59 $2.59
$4.15 $4.15
-37.59%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.26 $3.26
$5.52 $5.52
-40.94%
Eggs
$4.1 $4.1
$4.65 $4.65
-11.83%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.7 $8.7
$14.33 $14.33
-39.29%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.7 $12.7
$14.88 $14.88
-14.65%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.18 $15.18
$19.34 $19.34
-21.51%
Apples (1kg)
$5.64 $5.64
$5.17 $5.17
9.09%
Banana (1kg)
$1.13 $1.13
$1.71 $1.71
-33.92%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.56 $4.56
$4.41 $4.41
3.40%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.73 $4.73
$4.51 $4.51
4.88%
Potato (1kg)
$2.09 $2.09
$2.53 $2.53
-17.39%
Onion (1kg)
$2.12 $2.12
$2.74 $2.74
-22.63%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.97 $1.97
$2.43 $2.43
-18.93%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.61 $2.61
$2.7 $2.7
-3.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.52 $10.52
$15.19 $15.19
-30.74%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.29 $11.29
$16.42 $16.42
-31.24%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.81 $1.81
$2.35 $2.35
-22.98%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01 $3.01
$3.7 $3.7
-18.65%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Normal, IL
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.01 $2.01
$2.53 $2.53
-20.55%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$91.9 $91.9
$74.1 $74.1
23.94%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.79 $2.79
$3.34 $3.34
-16.47%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.58 $1.58
$1.42 $1.42
11.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$21.2 $21.2
$25.42 $25.42
-16.60%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.84 $0.84
$1.08 $1.08
-22.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.1K $30.1K
$32.4K $32.4K
-7.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1K $26.1K
$26.2K $26.2K
-0.29%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Normal, IL
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$186 $186
$188 $188
-1.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$40.58 $40.58
$63.7 $63.7
-36.30%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$62.8 $62.8
$65.2 $65.2
-3.67%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Normal, IL
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.82 $43.82
$76.7 $76.7
-42.88%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.56 $14.56
$14.93 $14.93
-2.48%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Normal, IL
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$703 $703
$2,063 $2,063
-65.91%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$24.3K $24.3K
$39.2K $39.2K
-38.08%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Normal, IL
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$29.69 $29.69
$64.3 $64.3
-53.83%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.79 $40.79
$52.4 $52.4
-22.14%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$81.1 $81.1
$95.2 $95.2
-14.78%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103 $103
$145 $145
-28.61%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Normal, IL
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,604 $1,604
$2,378 $2,378
-32.52%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$713 $713
$1,584 $1,584
-55.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,584 $2,584
$4,763 $4,763
-45.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,184 $2,184
$2,815 $2,815
-22.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$9,944 $9,944
$3,588 $3,588
177.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,174 $2,174
$2,490 $2,490
-12.70%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Normal, IL
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,559 $2,559
$5,275 $5,275
-51.49%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.55
6.6
-0.76%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Normal, IL: October 26, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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