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

🙂 Solo nomad: Saint Louis, MO is 8% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 20.4% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Saint Louis, MO is 8.8% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 17.7% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Saint Louis, MO
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$24.76 $24.76
$20.82 $20.82
18.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.5 $70.5
$100 $100
-29.78%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.84 $10.84
$11.97 $11.97
-9.44%
Cappuccino
$4.91 $4.91
$5.56 $5.56
-11.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.51 $2.51
$3.11 $3.11
-19.29%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.89 $1.89
$2.42 $2.42
-21.90%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.28 $5.28
$6.86 $6.86
-23.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.83 $5.83
$8.45 $8.45
-31.01%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Saint Louis, MO
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.94 $0.94
$1.04 $1.04
-9.62%
White Bread (500g)
$2.87 $2.87
$4.15 $4.15
-30.84%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.72 $5.72
$5.52 $5.52
3.62%
Eggs
$2.8 $2.8
$4.65 $4.65
-39.78%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.01 $14.01
$14.33 $14.33
-2.23%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.88 $11.88
$14.88 $14.88
-20.16%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.57 $16.57
$19.34 $19.34
-14.32%
Apples (1kg)
$7.36 $7.36
$5.17 $5.17
42.36%
Banana (1kg)
$2.2 $2.2
$1.71 $1.71
28.65%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.87 $5.87
$4.41 $4.41
33.11%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.17 $4.17
$4.51 $4.51
-7.54%
Potato (1kg)
$4.03 $4.03
$2.53 $2.53
59.29%
Onion (1kg)
$3.85 $3.85
$2.74 $2.74
40.51%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.33 $2.33
$2.43 $2.43
-4.12%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.44 $2.44
$2.7 $2.7
-9.63%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.47 $7.47
$15.19 $15.19
-50.82%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.78 $14.78
$16.42 $16.42
-9.99%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.14 $2.14
$2.35 $2.35
-8.94%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.91 $3.91
$3.7 $3.7
5.68%
🚌 Getting Around
Saint Louis, MO
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.54 $2.54
$2.53 $2.53
0.40%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$78.2 $78.2
$74.1 $74.1
5.49%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.4 $3.4
$3.34 $3.34
1.80%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.52 $1.52
$1.42 $1.42
7.04%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$39.43 $39.43
$25.42 $25.42
55.11%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.85 $0.85
$1.08 $1.08
-21.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32K $32K
$32.4K $32.4K
-1.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5K $26.5K
$26.2K $26.2K
1.20%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Saint Louis, MO
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$243 $243
$188 $188
29.04%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$52.2 $52.2
$63.7 $63.7
-18.10%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$71.4 $71.4
$65.2 $65.2
9.49%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Saint Louis, MO
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$27.98 $27.98
$76.7 $76.7
-63.53%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.74 $19.74
$13.03 $13.03
51.50%
Cinema Ticket
$12.96 $12.96
$14.93 $14.93
-13.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Saint Louis, MO
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,319 $1,319
$2,063 $2,063
-36.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.3K $23.3K
$39.2K $39.2K
-40.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Saint Louis, MO
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52 $52
$64.3 $64.3
-19.22%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.35 $41.35
$52.4 $52.4
-21.07%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.4 $91.4
$95.2 $95.2
-3.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119 $119
$145 $145
-17.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Saint Louis, MO
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,391 $1,391
$2,378 $2,378
-41.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,009 $1,009
$1,584 $1,584
-36.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,362 $2,362
$4,763 $4,763
-50.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,985 $1,985
$2,815 $2,815
-29.49%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,848 $1,848
$3,588 $3,588
-48.51%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,684 $1,684
$2,490 $2,490
-32.38%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Saint Louis, MO
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,596 $4,596
$5,275 $5,275
-12.88%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.49
6.6
-1.67%

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

Last update for Saint Louis, MO: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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