Cost of Living Comparison Between Rochester, MN and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Rochester, MN and Chicago, IL

🙂 Solo nomad: Rochester, MN is 23.8% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 6% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Rochester, MN is 25.3% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 15% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.97 $15.97

$20.82 $20.82

-23.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.9 $75.9

$100 $100

-24.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.82 $10.82

$11.97 $11.97

-9.61%

Cappuccino

$6.34 $6.34

$5.56 $5.56

14.03%

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

$2.56 $2.56

$3.11 $3.11

-17.68%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 $2.32

$2.42 $2.42

-4.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.9 $4.9

$6.86 $6.86

-28.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.06 $7.06

$8.45 $8.45

-16.45%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.92 $0.92

$1.04 $1.04

-11.54%

White Bread (500g)

$2.56 $2.56

$4.15 $4.15

-38.31%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.16 $2.16

$5.52 $5.52

-60.87%

Eggs

$3.6 $3.6

$4.65 $4.65

-22.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.76 $12.76

$14.33 $14.33

-10.96%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.81 $11.81

$14.88 $14.88

-20.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.48 $16.48

$19.34 $19.34

-14.79%

Apples (1kg)

$4.57 $4.57

$5.17 $5.17

-11.61%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 $1.56

$1.71 $1.71

-8.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.62 $3.62

$4.41 $4.41

-17.91%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.5 $3.5

$4.51 $4.51

-22.39%

Potato (1kg)

$2 $2

$2.53 $2.53

-20.95%

Onion (1kg)

$3.05 $3.05

$2.74 $2.74

11.31%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.98 $2.98

$2.43 $2.43

22.63%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.07 $3.07

$2.7 $2.7

13.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.14 $9.14

$15.19 $15.19

-39.83%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.91 $13.91

$16.42 $16.42

-15.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 $1.76

$2.35 $2.35

-25.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.04 $3.04

$3.7 $3.7

-17.84%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.04 $2.04

$2.53 $2.53

-19.37%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.81 $42.81

$74.1 $74.1

-42.25%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.04 $2.04

$3.34 $3.34

-38.92%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.13 $2.13

$1.42 $1.42

50.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$20.27 $20.27

$25.42 $25.42

-20.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.84 $0.84

$1.08 $1.08

-22.22%

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

$26.5K $26.5K

$32.4K $32.4K

-18.26%

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

$24.4K $24.4K

$26.2K $26.2K

-6.98%

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

$126 $126

$188 $188

-33.01%

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

$51.5 $51.5

$63.7 $63.7

-19.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$60.2 $60.2

$65.2 $65.2

-7.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$69.2 $69.2

$76.7 $76.7

-9.87%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$12.44 $12.44

$14.93 $14.93

-16.68%

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

$1,384 $1,384

$2,063 $2,063

-32.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.6K $11.6K

$39.2K $39.2K

-70.41%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.1 $63.1

$64.3 $64.3

-1.93%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$62.7 $62.7

$52.4 $52.4

19.66%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.8 $71.8

$95.2 $95.2

-24.56%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$85.6 $85.6

$145 $145

-40.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,488 $1,488

$2,378 $2,378

-37.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,609 $1,609

$1,584 $1,584

1.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,074 $2,074

$4,763 $4,763

-56.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,627 $2,627

$2,815 $2,815

-6.66%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,077 $2,077

$3,588 $3,588

-42.10%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,043 $2,043

$2,490 $2,490

-17.98%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,755 $4,755

$5,275 $5,275

-9.86%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.4

6.6

-3.03%

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

Last update for Rochester, MN: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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