Cost of Living Comparison Between South Bend, IN and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between South Bend, IN and Chicago, IL

🙂 Solo nomad: South Bend, IN is 26.3% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 39.3% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: South Bend, IN is 30.1% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 39% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.23 $15.23

$20.82 $20.82

-26.85%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$60.7 $60.7

$100 $100

-39.55%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.66 $7.66

$11.97 $11.97

-36.01%

Cappuccino

$4.84 $4.84

$5.56 $5.56

-12.95%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.93 $1.93

$3.11 $3.11

-37.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.51 $1.51

$2.42 $2.42

-37.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.94 $5.94

$6.86 $6.86

-13.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.63 $7.63

$8.45 $8.45

-9.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.84 $0.84

$1.04 $1.04

-19.23%

White Bread (500g)

$2.66 $2.66

$4.15 $4.15

-35.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.63 $2.63

$5.52 $5.52

-52.36%

Eggs

$3.04 $3.04

$4.65 $4.65

-34.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.56 $11.56

$14.33 $14.33

-19.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.28 $10.28

$14.88 $14.88

-30.91%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.73 $9.73

$19.34 $19.34

-49.69%

Apples (1kg)

$4.35 $4.35

$5.17 $5.17

-15.86%

Banana (1kg)

$1.3 $1.3

$1.71 $1.71

-23.98%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.5 $2.5

$4.41 $4.41

-43.31%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.74 $1.74

$4.51 $4.51

-61.42%

Potato (1kg)

$2.14 $2.14

$2.53 $2.53

-15.42%

Onion (1kg)

$1.63 $1.63

$2.74 $2.74

-40.51%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.48 $1.48

$2.43 $2.43

-39.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.03 $2.03

$2.7 $2.7

-24.81%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.41 $6.41

$15.19 $15.19

-57.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.87 $12.87

$16.42 $16.42

-21.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.07 $2.07

$2.35 $2.35

-11.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.16 $6.16

$3.7 $3.7

66.49%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.02 $1.02

$2.53 $2.53

-59.68%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.9 $34.9

$74.1 $74.1

-52.92%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.41 $3.41

$3.34 $3.34

2.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.63 $1.63

$1.42 $1.42

14.79%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.64 $29.64

$25.42 $25.42

16.60%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.83 $0.83

$1.08 $1.08

-23.15%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$24.9K $24.9K

$32.4K $32.4K

-23.05%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26K $26K

$26.2K $26.2K

-0.87%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$173 $173

$188 $188

-7.87%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$44.54 $44.54

$63.7 $63.7

-30.08%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$49.9 $49.9

$65.2 $65.2

-23.47%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.11 $42.11

$76.7 $76.7

-45.11%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.12 $26.12

$13.03 $13.03

100.46%

Cinema Ticket

$13.52 $13.52

$14.93 $14.93

-9.44%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,333 $1,333

$2,063 $2,063

-35.38%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.4K $23.4K

$39.2K $39.2K

-40.40%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$40.1 $40.1

$64.3 $64.3

-37.65%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.48 $29.48

$52.4 $52.4

-43.73%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$49.33 $49.33

$95.2 $95.2

-48.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$50.6 $50.6

$145 $145

-65.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,651 $1,651

$2,378 $2,378

-30.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$838 $838

$1,584 $1,584

-47.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,496 $2,496

$4,763 $4,763

-47.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,603 $1,603

$2,815 $2,815

-43.05%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,508 $1,508

$3,588 $3,588

-57.98%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,552 $1,552

$2,490 $2,490

-37.68%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,273 $3,273

$5,275 $5,275

-37.96%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.4

6.6

-3.03%

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

Last update for South Bend, IN: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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