Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Parker, CO and Chicago, IL

For one person, living is cheaper in Parker, CO: $2,615 a month against $3,037 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $5,100 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

125

Cost of Living Index in Parker, CO
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Parker, CO Living Index
147

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

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Parker, CO

🇺🇸 United States

$2,615

/mo nomad

Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,037

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Parker, CO 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 Parker, CO and in Chicago, IL actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,615 per month in Parker, CO vs $3,037 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Parker, CO $2,615
Chicago, IL $3,037

A couple spends around $3,880 per month in Parker, CO vs $4,518 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Parker, CO $3,880
Chicago, IL $4,518

A family of three spends $5,144 per month in Parker, CO vs $5,999 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Parker, CO $5,144
Chicago, IL $5,999

Parker, CO is about 14% cheaper than Chicago, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Parker, CO and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – Parker, CO by 92%, Chicago, IL by 123%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.03 $20.03

$20.71 $20.71

-3.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$79.0 $79.0

$89.2 $89.2

-11.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.08 $11.08

$13.19 $13.19

-16.00%

Cappuccino

$5.75 $5.75

$5.66 $5.66

1.59%

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

$2.53 $2.53

$2.64 $2.64

-4.17%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 $2.06

$2.28 $2.28

-9.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.92 $5.92

$6.87 $6.87

-13.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.05 $7.05

$8.84 $8.84

-20.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.88 $0.88

$1.25 $1.25

-29.60%

White Bread (500g)

$2.92 $2.92

$3.72 $3.72

-21.51%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.78 $2.78

$5.39 $5.39

-48.42%

Eggs

$4.33 $4.33

$4.74 $4.74

-8.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.62 $8.62

$13.84 $13.84

-37.72%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.52 $9.52

$14.40 $14.40

-33.89%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.37 $15.37

$18.38 $18.38

-16.38%

Apples (1kg)

$4.84 $4.84

$5.22 $5.22

-7.28%

Banana (1kg)

$1.24 $1.24

$1.98 $1.98

-37.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.66 $4.66

$4.06 $4.06

14.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.31 $5.31

$4.97 $4.97

6.84%

Potato (1kg)

$1.60 $1.60

$2.67 $2.67

-40.07%

Onion (1kg)

$2.38 $2.38

$2.66 $2.66

-10.53%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.93 $1.93

$2.24 $2.24

-13.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 $1.71

$3.13 $3.13

-45.37%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.32 $10.32

$13.82 $13.82

-25.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.02 $15.02

$14.88 $14.88

0.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.52 $2.52

$2.54 $2.54

-0.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 $2.61

$3.51 $3.51

-25.64%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.43 $2.43

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$73.5 $73.5

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.44 $2.44

$3.18 $3.18

-23.27%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.83 $1.83

$1.39 $1.39

31.65%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.58 $24.58

$25.03 $25.03

-1.80%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.85 $0.85

$1.20 $1.20

-29.17%

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

$28.5K $28.5K

$35.0K $35.0K

-18.65%

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

$25.3K $25.3K

$26.7K $26.7K

-5.06%

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

$215 $215

$194 $194

10.55%

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

$56.9 $56.9

$69.5 $69.5

-18.01%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$70.3 $70.3

$61.6 $61.6

14.02%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$64.1 $64.1

$47.90 $47.90

33.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.34 $27.34

Cinema Ticket

$10.80 $10.80

$17.81 $17.81

-39.36%

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

$1,111 $1,111

$1,794 $1,794

-38.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.6K $12.6K

$31.9K $31.9K

-60.65%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.4 $58.4

$67.0 $67.0

-12.91%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.31 $40.31

$52.1 $52.1

-22.69%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.9 $79.9

$102 $102

-21.28%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 $115

$144 $144

-19.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,599 $1,599

$2,526 $2,526

-36.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,370 $1,370

$1,578 $1,578

-13.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,662 $2,662

$4,738 $4,738

-43.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,407 $2,407

$2,693 $2,693

-10.63%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,474 $3,474

$4,190 $4,190

-17.09%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,104 $3,104

$2,768 $2,768

12.13%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,415 $6,415

$4,931 $4,931

30.11%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.38

6.81

-6.31%

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

Last update for Parker, CO: 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

Parker, CO

$1.4K 52.4%

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52% 15.2% $208

Groceries & Markets

Parker, CO

$348 13.3%

Chicago, IL

$447 14.7% 28.4% $99

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Parker, CO

$342 13.1%

Chicago, IL

$326 10.7% 4.9% $17

Eating Out

Parker, CO

$325 12.4%

Chicago, IL

$345 11.4% 6.3% $20

Clothing & Footwear

Parker, CO

$132 5.1%

Chicago, IL

$164 5.4% 24% $32

Sport & Entertainment

Parker, CO

$86 3.3%

Chicago, IL

$84 2.8% 2.5% $2.2

Getting Around

Parker, CO

$12 * 0.4%

Chicago, IL

$93 3.1% 706% $82

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,599 in Parker, CO 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 30% higher in Parker, CO, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $79 in Parker, CO versus $89 in Chicago, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $348 vs $447 – making Parker, CO the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Parker, CO

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🕒 Local time

12:45 12:45 PM

13:45 1:45 PM

1 h ahead of Parker, CO

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

49,550

2,746,388

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.898 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Parker, CO Chicago, IL 1,470 km ≈ 2 h 15 min nonstop flight

From you

Parker, CO
Chicago, IL

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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

Parker, CO vs Chicago, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,615 in Parker, CO, $3,037 in Chicago, IL – roughly 16% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,922 per month in Parker, CO 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 Parker, CO, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,599 there versus $2,526 in Chicago, IL.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $79 in Parker, CO and $89 in Chicago, IL. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 28% 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.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,615 in Parker, CO and $3,037 in Chicago, IL. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Parker, CO – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.