Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Owensboro, KY: $1,977 a month against $3,037 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $12,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

95

Cost of Living Index in Owensboro, KY
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Owensboro, KY Living Index
147

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
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Chicago, IL Living Index

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Owensboro, KY

🇺🇸 United States

$1,977

/mo nomad

Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,037

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Owensboro, KY and in Chicago, IL

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Owensboro, KY and in Chicago, IL actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,977 per month in Owensboro, KY vs $3,037 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Owensboro, KY $1,977
Chicago, IL $3,037

A couple spends around $2,919 per month in Owensboro, KY vs $4,518 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Owensboro, KY $2,919
Chicago, IL $4,518

A family of three spends $3,861 per month in Owensboro, KY vs $5,999 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Owensboro, KY $3,861
Chicago, IL $5,999

Owensboro, KY is about 35% cheaper than Chicago, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Owensboro, KY and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – Owensboro, KY by 45%, Chicago, IL by 123%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.39 $19.39

$20.71 $20.71

-6.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$59.8 $59.8

$89.2 $89.2

-32.94%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.82 $9.82

$13.19 $13.19

-25.55%

Cappuccino

$5.53 $5.53

$5.66 $5.66

-2.30%

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

$1.88 $1.88

$2.64 $2.64

-28.79%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.35 $1.35

$2.28 $2.28

-40.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.99 $3.99

$6.87 $6.87

-41.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.96 $4.96

$8.84 $8.84

-43.89%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.79 $0.79

$1.25 $1.25

-36.80%

White Bread (500g)

$3.24 $3.24

$3.72 $3.72

-12.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.28 $4.28

$5.39 $5.39

-20.59%

Eggs

$3.02 $3.02

$4.74 $4.74

-36.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.67 $6.67

$13.84 $13.84

-51.81%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.01 $11.01

$14.40 $14.40

-23.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.10 $12.10

$18.38 $18.38

-34.17%

Apples (1kg)

$4.34 $4.34

$5.22 $5.22

-16.86%

Banana (1kg)

$1.24 $1.24

$1.98 $1.98

-37.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.69 $2.69

$4.06 $4.06

-33.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.56 $3.56

$4.97 $4.97

-28.37%

Potato (1kg)

$2.27 $2.27

$2.67 $2.67

-14.98%

Onion (1kg)

$2.17 $2.17

$2.66 $2.66

-18.42%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.06 $2.06

$2.24 $2.24

-8.04%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.51 $1.51

$3.13 $3.13

-51.76%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.73 $8.73

$13.82 $13.82

-36.83%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.85 $7.85

$14.88 $14.88

-47.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 $1.86

$2.54 $2.54

-26.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.94 $4.94

$3.51 $3.51

40.74%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.02 $1.02

$2.43 $2.43

-58.02%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.58 $30.58

$73.5 $73.5

-58.41%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.54 $5.54

$3.18 $3.18

74.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.39 $1.39

-25.18%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$18.13 $18.13

$25.03 $25.03

-27.57%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.86 $0.86

$1.20 $1.20

-28.33%

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

$27.9K $27.9K

$35.0K $35.0K

-20.41%

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

$27.2K $27.2K

$26.7K $26.7K

1.95%

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

$172 $172

$194 $194

-11.58%

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

$60.9 $60.9

$69.5 $69.5

-12.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$59.7 $59.7

$61.6 $61.6

-3.10%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.91 $49.91

$47.90 $47.90

4.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.17 $10.17

$27.34 $27.34

-62.80%

Cinema Ticket

$13.19 $13.19

$17.81 $17.81

-25.94%

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

$1,794 $1,794

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.9K $31.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$74.5 $74.5

$67.0 $67.0

11.12%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.29 $43.29

$52.1 $52.1

-16.97%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.0 $68.0

$102 $102

-33.01%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$89.3 $89.3

$144 $144

-37.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$844 $844

$2,526 $2,526

-66.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$834 $834

$1,578 $1,578

-47.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,441 $1,441

$4,738 $4,738

-69.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,364 $1,364

$2,693 $2,693

-49.36%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,744 $1,744

$4,190 $4,190

-58.36%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,738 $1,738

$2,768 $2,768

-37.20%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,362 $3,362

$4,931 $4,931

-31.80%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.55

6.81

-3.82%

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

Last update for Owensboro, KY: October 24, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Owensboro, KY

$834 42.2%

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52% 89.1% $744

Groceries & Markets

Owensboro, KY

$311 15.7%

Chicago, IL

$447 14.7% 43.9% $136

Eating Out

Owensboro, KY

$294 14.9%

Chicago, IL

$345 11.4% 17.4% $51

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Owensboro, KY

$293 14.8%

Chicago, IL

$326 10.7% 11.3% $33

Clothing & Footwear

Owensboro, KY

$124 6.3%

Chicago, IL

$164 5.4% 32.5% $40

Sport & Entertainment

Owensboro, KY

$76 3.9%

Chicago, IL

$84 2.8% 9.5% $7.2

Getting Around

Owensboro, KY

$45 2.3%

Chicago, IL

$93 3.1% 106% $48

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $844 in Owensboro, KY versus $2,526 in Chicago, IL. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 47% higher in Chicago, IL, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $60 in Owensboro, KY versus $89 in Chicago, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $311 vs $447 – making Owensboro, KY the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Owensboro, KY

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🕒 Local time

14:03 2:03 PM

Same time as Owensboro, KY

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

55,525

2,746,388

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.898 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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From you

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City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Owensboro, KY vs Chicago, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,977 in Owensboro, KY, $3,037 in Chicago, IL – roughly 54% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,965 per month in Owensboro, KY and $4,555 in Chicago, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Owensboro, KY, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $844 there versus $2,526 in Chicago, IL.

Public transport costs about 58% less in Owensboro, KY. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Groceries cost about 44% more in Chicago, IL, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,977 in Owensboro, KY to $3,037 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Owensboro, KY. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chicago, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.