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

🙂 Solo nomad: Saint Paul, MN is 20.9% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 20.2% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Saint Paul, MN is 2.1% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 16% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Saint Paul, MN
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.11 $18.11
$20.82 $20.82
-13.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$66.4 $66.4
$100 $100
-33.86%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.02 $10.02
$11.97 $11.97
-16.29%
Cappuccino
$5.06 $5.06
$5.56 $5.56
-8.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82 $2.82
$3.11 $3.11
-9.32%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37 $2.37
$2.42 $2.42
-2.07%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.85 $5.85
$6.86 $6.86
-14.72%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.12 $7.12
$8.45 $8.45
-15.74%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Saint Paul, MN
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.02 $1.02
$1.04 $1.04
-1.92%
White Bread (500g)
$4.28 $4.28
$4.15 $4.15
3.13%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.95 $3.95
$5.52 $5.52
-28.44%
Eggs
$3.31 $3.31
$4.65 $4.65
-28.82%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.11 $9.11
$14.33 $14.33
-36.43%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.87 $11.87
$14.88 $14.88
-20.23%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.1 $14.1
$19.34 $19.34
-27.09%
Apples (1kg)
$5.13 $5.13
$5.17 $5.17
-0.77%
Banana (1kg)
$1.17 $1.17
$1.71 $1.71
-31.58%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.77 $5.77
$4.41 $4.41
30.84%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.27 $5.27
$4.51 $4.51
16.85%
Potato (1kg)
$3.97 $3.97
$2.53 $2.53
56.92%
Onion (1kg)
$3.72 $3.72
$2.74 $2.74
35.77%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.05 $2.05
$2.43 $2.43
-15.64%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.99 $1.99
$2.7 $2.7
-26.30%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.3 $10.3
$15.19 $15.19
-32.19%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.91 $13.91
$16.42 $16.42
-15.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.75 $1.75
$2.35 $2.35
-25.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.53 $4.53
$3.7 $3.7
22.43%
🚌 Getting Around
Saint Paul, MN
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.31 $2.31
$2.53 $2.53
-8.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$119 $119
$74.1 $74.1
61.00%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.91 $4.91
$3.34 $3.34
47.01%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.44 $1.44
$1.42 $1.42
1.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.5 $29.5
$25.42 $25.42
16.05%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.86 $0.86
$1.08 $1.08
-20.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.9K $34.9K
$32.4K $32.4K
7.78%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.2K $25.2K
$26.2K $26.2K
-4.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Saint Paul, MN
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$219 $219
$188 $188
16.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$47.85 $47.85
$63.7 $63.7
-24.88%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$73.5 $73.5
$65.2 $65.2
12.71%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Saint Paul, MN
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.39 $41.39
$76.7 $76.7
-46.05%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.99 $9.99
$13.03 $13.03
-23.33%
Cinema Ticket
$13.88 $13.88
$14.93 $14.93
-7.03%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Saint Paul, MN
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,452 $1,452
$2,063 $2,063
-29.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$30.1K $30.1K
$39.2K $39.2K
-23.28%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Saint Paul, MN
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$39.48 $39.48
$64.3 $64.3
-38.61%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.66 $42.66
$52.4 $52.4
-18.57%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$83.8 $83.8
$95.2 $95.2
-11.95%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$126 $126
$145 $145
-12.84%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Saint Paul, MN
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,249 $1,249
$2,378 $2,378
-47.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,028 $1,028
$1,584 $1,584
-35.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,202 $2,202
$4,763 $4,763
-53.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,212 $2,212
$2,815 $2,815
-21.42%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,857 $2,857
$3,588 $3,588
-20.36%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,398 $2,398
$2,490 $2,490
-3.71%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Saint Paul, MN
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,170 $4,170
$5,275 $5,275
-20.96%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.43
6.6
-2.58%

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

Last update for Saint Paul, MN: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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