Cost of Living Comparison Between Owensboro, KY and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Owensboro, KY and Chicago, IL

🙂 Solo nomad: Owensboro, KY is 27.2% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 36.2% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Owensboro, KY is 33% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 43.8% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Owensboro, KY
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.93 $17.93
$20.82 $20.82
-13.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$60.6 $60.6
$100 $100
-39.59%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.13 $10.13
$11.97 $11.97
-15.37%
Cappuccino
$5.98 $5.98
$5.56 $5.56
7.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95 $1.95
$3.11 $3.11
-37.30%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.3 $1.3
$2.42 $2.42
-46.28%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.08 $4.08
$6.86 $6.86
-40.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.85 $4.85
$8.45 $8.45
-42.60%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Owensboro, KY
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.11 $1.11
$1.04 $1.04
6.73%
White Bread (500g)
$3.34 $3.34
$4.15 $4.15
-19.52%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.52 $4.52
$5.52 $5.52
-18.12%
Eggs
$3.77 $3.77
$4.65 $4.65
-18.92%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.47 $6.47
$14.33 $14.33
-54.85%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.24 $11.24
$14.88 $14.88
-24.46%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.93 $8.93
$19.34 $19.34
-53.83%
Apples (1kg)
$4.43 $4.43
$5.17 $5.17
-14.31%
Banana (1kg)
$1.35 $1.35
$1.71 $1.71
-21.05%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.65 $2.65
$4.41 $4.41
-39.91%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.56 $3.56
$4.51 $4.51
-21.06%
Potato (1kg)
$2.19 $2.19
$2.53 $2.53
-13.44%
Onion (1kg)
$2.17 $2.17
$2.74 $2.74
-20.80%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.05 $2.05
$2.43 $2.43
-15.64%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.46 $1.46
$2.7 $2.7
-45.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.88 $8.88
$15.19 $15.19
-41.54%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.1 $8.1
$16.42 $16.42
-50.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.1 $2.1
$2.35 $2.35
-10.64%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.33 $4.33
$3.7 $3.7
17.03%
🚌 Getting Around
Owensboro, KY
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.01 $1.01
$2.53 $2.53
-60.08%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$30.6 $30.6
$74.1 $74.1
-58.72%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.89 $4.89
$3.34 $3.34
46.41%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.53 $1.53
$1.42 $1.42
7.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$20.77 $20.77
$25.42 $25.42
-18.29%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.79 $0.79
$1.08 $1.08
-26.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.8K $32.8K
$32.4K $32.4K
1.11%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8K $26.8K
$26.2K $26.2K
2.34%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Owensboro, KY
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$171 $171
$188 $188
-9.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$59 $59
$63.7 $63.7
-7.39%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$60.8 $60.8
$65.2 $65.2
-6.72%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Owensboro, KY
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.59 $49.59
$76.7 $76.7
-35.36%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.81 $9.81
$13.03 $13.03
-24.71%
Cinema Ticket
$13.21 $13.21
$14.93 $14.93
-11.52%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Owensboro, KY
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,221 $1,221
$2,063 $2,063
-40.82%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$30.1K $30.1K
$39.2K $39.2K
-23.28%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Owensboro, KY
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$61.4 $61.4
$64.3 $64.3
-4.52%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.81 $47.81
$52.4 $52.4
-8.74%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.1 $91.1
$95.2 $95.2
-4.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$133 $133
$145 $145
-8.14%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Owensboro, KY
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$730 $730
$2,378 $2,378
-69.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$786 $786
$1,584 $1,584
-50.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,083 $1,083
$4,763 $4,763
-77.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$933 $933
$2,815 $2,815
-66.85%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,607 $1,607
$3,588 $3,588
-55.22%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,642 $1,642
$2,490 $2,490
-34.08%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Owensboro, KY
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,600 $3,600
$5,275 $5,275
-31.76%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.47
6.6
-1.97%

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

Last update for Owensboro, KY: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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