Cost of Living Comparison Between Saint Charles, MO and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Saint Charles, MO and Chicago, IL

🙂 Solo nomad: Saint Charles, MO is 32% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 39.4% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Saint Charles, MO is 33.7% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 30.6% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Saint Charles, MO
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.06 $15.06
$20.62 $20.62
-26.96%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$50.7 $50.7
$101 $101
-49.85%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.9 $10.9
$11.78 $11.78
-7.47%
Cappuccino
$4.07 $4.07
$5.78 $5.78
-29.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.27 $2.27
$2.98 $2.98
-23.83%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.48 $1.48
$2.45 $2.45
-39.59%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.46 $5.46
$6.8 $6.8
-19.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.85 $5.85
$8.48 $8.48
-31.01%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Saint Charles, MO
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.74 $0.74
$1.09 $1.09
-32.11%
White Bread (500g)
$2.14 $2.14
$4.1 $4.1
-47.80%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.77 $2.77
$5.36 $5.36
-48.32%
Eggs
$2.72 $2.72
$4.55 $4.55
-40.22%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.41 $11.41
$14.35 $14.35
-20.49%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.34 $6.34
$15.2 $15.2
-58.29%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.67 $13.67
$18.97 $18.97
-27.94%
Apples (1kg)
$3.14 $3.14
$5.44 $5.44
-42.28%
Banana (1kg)
$1.53 $1.53
$1.72 $1.72
-11.05%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.36 $3.36
$4.39 $4.39
-23.46%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.36 $3.36
$4.42 $4.42
-23.98%
Potato (1kg)
$1.11 $1.11
$2.57 $2.57
-56.81%
Onion (1kg)
$2.35 $2.35
$2.69 $2.69
-12.64%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.49 $1.49
$2.41 $2.41
-38.17%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.48 $1.48
$2.72 $2.72
-45.59%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.04 $10.04
$14.82 $14.82
-32.25%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.89 $11.89
$16.71 $16.71
-28.85%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.15 $2.15
$2.45 $2.45
-12.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.84 $3.84
$3.58 $3.58
7.26%
🚌 Getting Around
Saint Charles, MO
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.96 $4.96
$2.54 $2.54
95.28%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$76.2 $76.2
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.44 $3.44
$3.31 $3.31
3.93%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.51 $1.51
$1.39 $1.39
8.63%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$51 $51
$25.15 $25.15
102.58%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.99 $0.99
$1.05 $1.05
-5.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.6K $29.6K
$31.5K $31.5K
-5.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.2K $23.2K
$26.2K $26.2K
-11.40%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Saint Charles, MO
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$220 $220
$182 $182
20.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$42 $42
$62.6 $62.6
-32.86%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$62.2 $62.2
$66.5 $66.5
-6.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Saint Charles, MO
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.93 $49.93
$77.7 $77.7
-35.74%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.18 $13.18
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.89 $11.89
$14.98 $14.98
-20.63%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Saint Charles, MO
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,010 $1,010
$2,022 $2,022
-50.06%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.1K $23.1K
$39K $39K
-40.84%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Saint Charles, MO
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.02 $44.02
$63.3 $63.3
-30.46%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.66 $39.66
$52.3 $52.3
-24.14%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.3 $84.3
$95.9 $95.9
-12.13%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$99.4 $99.4
$148 $148
-32.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Saint Charles, MO
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,513 $1,513
$2,302 $2,302
-34.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$788 $788
$1,622 $1,622
-51.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,734 $1,734
$4,642 $4,642
-62.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,903 $1,903
$2,815 $2,815
-32.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,813 $2,813
$3,708 $3,708
-24.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,485 $2,485
$2,559 $2,559
-2.86%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Saint Charles, MO
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,709 $3,709
$5,228 $5,228
-29.04%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.56
6.6
-0.61%

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

Last update for Saint Charles, MO: November 3, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: November 5, 2025

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