Cost of Living Comparison Between Saint Cloud, MN and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Saint Cloud, MN and Chicago, IL

πŸ™‚ Solo nomad: Saint Cloud, MN is 28.5% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 18.4% cheaper with rent.
πŸ™‚ Family of 3: Saint Cloud, MN is 31.8% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 26.5% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Saint Cloud, MN
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.13 $18.13
$20.82 $20.82
-12.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$67.2 $67.2
$100 $100
-33.04%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.46 $8.46
$11.97 $11.97
-29.32%
Cappuccino
$4.56 $4.56
$5.56 $5.56
-17.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73 $2.73
$3.11 $3.11
-12.22%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17 $2.17
$2.42 $2.42
-10.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.49 $5.49
$6.86 $6.86
-19.97%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.06 $5.06
$8.45 $8.45
-40.12%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Saint Cloud, MN
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.89 $0.89
$1.04 $1.04
-14.42%
White Bread (500g)
$2.39 $2.39
$4.15 $4.15
-42.41%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.73 $3.73
$5.52 $5.52
-32.43%
Eggs
$3.34 $3.34
$4.65 $4.65
-28.17%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.47 $9.47
$14.33 $14.33
-33.91%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.77 $7.77
$14.88 $14.88
-47.78%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.52 $14.52
$19.34 $19.34
-24.92%
Apples (1kg)
$3.52 $3.52
$5.17 $5.17
-31.91%
Banana (1kg)
$1.15 $1.15
$1.71 $1.71
-32.75%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.11 $4.11
$4.41 $4.41
-6.80%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.3 $5.3
$4.51 $4.51
17.52%
Potato (1kg)
$2.68 $2.68
$2.53 $2.53
5.93%
Onion (1kg)
$3.05 $3.05
$2.74 $2.74
11.31%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.99 $1.99
$2.43 $2.43
-18.11%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.93 $1.93
$2.7 $2.7
-28.52%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.71 $10.71
$15.19 $15.19
-29.49%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.46 $11.46
$16.42 $16.42
-30.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68 $1.68
$2.35 $2.35
-28.51%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.59 $3.59
$3.7 $3.7
-2.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Saint Cloud, MN
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.97 $1.97
$2.53 $2.53
-22.13%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$60.3 $60.3
$74.1 $74.1
-18.72%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.1 $5.1
$3.34 $3.34
52.69%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.43 $1.43
$1.42 $1.42
0.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.71 $29.71
$25.42 $25.42
16.88%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.81 $0.81
$1.08 $1.08
-25.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.8K $35.8K
$32.4K $32.4K
10.37%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26K $26K
$26.2K $26.2K
-0.81%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Saint Cloud, MN
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$107 $107
$188 $188
-43.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$49.24 $49.24
$63.7 $63.7
-22.70%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$64.9 $64.9
$65.2 $65.2
-0.48%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Saint Cloud, MN
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.09 $43.09
$76.7 $76.7
-43.83%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.85 $11.85
$14.93 $14.93
-20.63%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Saint Cloud, MN
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,439 $1,439
$2,063 $2,063
-30.21%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$30.3K $30.3K
$39.2K $39.2K
-22.57%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Saint Cloud, MN
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$38.74 $38.74
$64.3 $64.3
-39.76%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.35 $42.35
$52.4 $52.4
-19.16%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$75.3 $75.3
$95.2 $95.2
-20.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.6 $80.6
$145 $145
-44.32%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Saint Cloud, MN
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,591 $1,591
$2,378 $2,378
-33.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,333 $1,333
$1,584 $1,584
-15.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,663 $2,663
$4,763 $4,763
-44.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,245 $2,245
$2,815 $2,815
-20.26%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,989 $1,989
$3,588 $3,588
-44.56%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,731 $1,731
$2,490 $2,490
-30.48%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Saint Cloud, MN
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,968 $3,968
$5,275 $5,275
-24.78%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.3
6.6
-4.55%

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

Last update for Saint Cloud, MN: October 26, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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