Cost of Living Comparison Between Salt Lake City, UT and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Salt Lake City, UT and Chicago, IL

🙂 Solo nomad: Salt Lake City, UT is 11.1% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 11% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Salt Lake City, UT is 13.1% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 19.4% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Salt Lake City, UT
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.65 $18.65
$20.82 $20.82
-10.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$82.8 $82.8
$100 $100
-17.47%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.39 $11.39
$11.97 $11.97
-4.85%
Cappuccino
$4.97 $4.97
$5.56 $5.56
-10.61%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29 $2.29
$3.11 $3.11
-26.37%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 $1.74
$2.42 $2.42
-28.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.03 $6.03
$6.86 $6.86
-12.10%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.67 $7.67
$8.45 $8.45
-9.23%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Salt Lake City, UT
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.98 $0.98
$1.04 $1.04
-5.77%
White Bread (500g)
$3.29 $3.29
$4.15 $4.15
-20.72%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.88 $3.88
$5.52 $5.52
-29.71%
Eggs
$4.38 $4.38
$4.65 $4.65
-5.81%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.36 $12.36
$14.33 $14.33
-13.75%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.32 $10.32
$14.88 $14.88
-30.65%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.37 $16.37
$19.34 $19.34
-15.36%
Apples (1kg)
$5.16 $5.16
$5.17 $5.17
-0.19%
Banana (1kg)
$2.05 $2.05
$1.71 $1.71
19.88%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.55 $3.55
$4.41 $4.41
-19.50%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.77 $4.77
$4.51 $4.51
5.76%
Potato (1kg)
$2.5 $2.5
$2.53 $2.53
-1.19%
Onion (1kg)
$2.65 $2.65
$2.74 $2.74
-3.28%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.86 $1.86
$2.43 $2.43
-23.46%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.98 $1.98
$2.7 $2.7
-26.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.88 $8.88
$15.19 $15.19
-41.54%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.41 $15.41
$16.42 $16.42
-6.15%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.91 $1.91
$2.35 $2.35
-18.72%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48 $2.48
$3.7 $3.7
-32.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Salt Lake City, UT
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.45 $2.45
$2.53 $2.53
-3.16%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$86.3 $86.3
$74.1 $74.1
16.43%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.43 $2.43
$3.34 $3.34
-27.25%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.39 $1.39
$1.42 $1.42
-2.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$24.61 $24.61
$25.42 $25.42
-3.19%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1 $1
$1.08 $1.08
-7.41%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.8K $24.8K
$32.4K $32.4K
-23.41%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5K $26.5K
$26.2K $26.2K
1.25%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Salt Lake City, UT
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$178 $178
$188 $188
-5.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$68.5 $68.5
$63.7 $63.7
7.58%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$82.4 $82.4
$65.2 $65.2
26.40%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Salt Lake City, UT
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$27.87 $27.87
$76.7 $76.7
-63.67%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.32 $16.32
$13.03 $13.03
25.25%
Cinema Ticket
$13.76 $13.76
$14.93 $14.93
-7.84%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Salt Lake City, UT
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$992 $992
$2,063 $2,063
-51.91%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$18.6K $18.6K
$39.2K $39.2K
-52.61%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Salt Lake City, UT
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64 $64
$64.3 $64.3
-0.42%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.36 $43.36
$52.4 $52.4
-17.24%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$108 $108
$95.2 $95.2
13.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$110 $110
$145 $145
-24.05%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Salt Lake City, UT
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,630 $1,630
$2,378 $2,378
-31.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,374 $1,374
$1,584 $1,584
-13.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,841 $2,841
$4,763 $4,763
-40.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,148 $2,148
$2,815 $2,815
-23.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,468 $3,468
$3,588 $3,588
-3.35%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,756 $2,756
$2,490 $2,490
10.66%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Salt Lake City, UT
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,404 $4,404
$5,275 $5,275
-16.51%
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 Salt Lake City, UT: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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