Cost of Living Comparison Between Paola, KS and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Paola, KS and Chicago, IL

🙂 Solo nomad: Paola, KS is 13.7% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 15.5% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Paola, KS is 33.5% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 23.9% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Paola, KS
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.73 $16.73
$20.82 $20.82
-19.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$60.4 $60.4
$100 $100
-39.77%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.83 $12.83
$11.97 $11.97
7.18%
Cappuccino
$5.09 $5.09
$5.56 $5.56
-8.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 $2.49
$3.11 $3.11
-19.94%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04 $2.04
$2.42 $2.42
-15.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.11 $5.11
$6.86 $6.86
-25.51%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.08 $5.08
$8.45 $8.45
-39.88%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Paola, KS
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.1 $1.1
$1.04 $1.04
5.77%
White Bread (500g)
$3.16 $3.16
$4.15 $4.15
-23.86%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.54 $4.54
$5.52 $5.52
-17.75%
Eggs
$3.06 $3.06
$4.65 $4.65
-34.19%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.39 $12.39
$14.33 $14.33
-13.54%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.3 $10.3
$14.88 $14.88
-30.78%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.04 $14.04
$19.34 $19.34
-27.40%
Apples (1kg)
$4.09 $4.09
$5.17 $5.17
-20.89%
Banana (1kg)
$2.2 $2.2
$1.71 $1.71
28.65%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.52 $4.52
$4.41 $4.41
2.49%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.59 $4.59
$4.51 $4.51
1.77%
Potato (1kg)
$2.81 $2.81
$2.53 $2.53
11.07%
Onion (1kg)
$2.58 $2.58
$2.74 $2.74
-5.84%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.67 $1.67
$2.43 $2.43
-31.28%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.21 $2.21
$2.7 $2.7
-18.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.6 $8.6
$15.19 $15.19
-43.38%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.17 $14.17
$16.42 $16.42
-13.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.9 $1.9
$2.35 $2.35
-19.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.09 $4.09
$3.7 $3.7
10.54%
🚌 Getting Around
Paola, KS
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.02 $2.02
$2.53 $2.53
-20.16%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$74.1 $74.1
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.85 $4.85
$3.34 $3.34
45.21%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.21 $1.21
$1.42 $1.42
-14.79%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$22.69 $22.69
$25.42 $25.42
-10.74%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.8 $0.8
$1.08 $1.08
-25.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.4K $30.4K
$32.4K $32.4K
-6.18%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.9K $25.9K
$26.2K $26.2K
-1.24%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Paola, KS
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$185 $185
$188 $188
-1.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$50.3 $50.3
$63.7 $63.7
-21.00%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$59.1 $59.1
$65.2 $65.2
-9.40%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Paola, KS
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.4 $42.4
$76.7 $76.7
-44.73%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.43 $14.43
$14.93 $14.93
-3.35%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Paola, KS
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,205 $1,205
$2,063 $2,063
-41.59%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13K $13K
$39.2K $39.2K
-66.81%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Paola, KS
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.5 $54.5
$64.3 $64.3
-15.22%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.73 $33.73
$52.4 $52.4
-35.62%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$93.1 $93.1
$95.2 $95.2
-2.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.8 $86.8
$145 $145
-40.02%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Paola, KS
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,592 $1,592
$2,378 $2,378
-33.03%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,336 $1,336
$1,584 $1,584
-15.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,578 $2,578
$4,763 $4,763
-45.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,191 $2,191
$2,815 $2,815
-22.15%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,999 $2,999
$3,588 $3,588
-16.42%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,339 $2,339
$2,490 $2,490
-6.08%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Paola, KS
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$5,275 $5,275
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.35
6.6
-3.79%

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

Last update for Paola, KS: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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