Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in South Bend, IN: $1,856 a month against $3,185 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $15,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

90

Cost of Living Index in South Bend, IN
Learn more

South Bend, IN Living Index
153

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
Learn more

Chicago, IL Living Index

Jump to prices

South Bend, IN

🇺🇸 United States

$1,856

/mo nomad

Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,185

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in South Bend, IN and in Chicago, IL

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in South Bend, IN and in Chicago, IL actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,856 per month in South Bend, IN vs $3,185 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

South Bend, IN $1,856
Chicago, IL $3,185

A couple spends around $2,858 per month in South Bend, IN vs $4,631 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

South Bend, IN $2,858
Chicago, IL $4,631

A family of three spends $3,860 per month in South Bend, IN vs $6,077 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

South Bend, IN $3,860
Chicago, IL $6,077

South Bend, IN is about 42% cheaper than Chicago, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both South Bend, IN and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – South Bend, IN by 37%, Chicago, IL by 136%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.79 $14.79

$21.58 $21.58

-31.46%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$59.3 $59.3

$88.7 $88.7

-33.12%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.95 $7.95

$13.20 $13.20

-39.77%

Cappuccino

$4.54 $4.54

$5.59 $5.59

-18.78%

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

$1.82 $1.82

$2.63 $2.63

-30.80%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.63 $1.63

$2.26 $2.26

-27.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.86 $5.86

$7.11 $7.11

-17.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.89 $4.89

$9.23 $9.23

-47.02%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.78 $0.78

$1.28 $1.28

-39.06%

White Bread (500g)

$2.69 $2.69

$3.84 $3.84

-29.95%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.75 $2.75

$5.07 $5.07

-45.76%

Eggs

$2.95 $2.95

$4.84 $4.84

-39.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.96 $9.96

$14.17 $14.17

-29.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.18 $10.18

$14.61 $14.61

-30.32%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.68 $8.68

$18.76 $18.76

-53.73%

Apples (1kg)

$2.66 $2.66

$5.19 $5.19

-48.75%

Banana (1kg)

$1.24 $1.24

$2.00 $2.00

-38.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.40 $2.40

$4.00 $4.00

-40.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.31 $1.31

$4.98 $4.98

-73.69%

Potato (1kg)

$1.85 $1.85

$2.79 $2.79

-33.69%

Onion (1kg)

$1.57 $1.57

$2.65 $2.65

-40.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.43 $1.43

$2.13 $2.13

-32.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.04 $2.04

$3.09 $3.09

-33.98%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.98 $4.98

$16.05 $16.05

-68.97%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.52 $10.52

$15.20 $15.20

-30.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.03 $2.03

$2.62 $2.62

-22.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 $2.61

$3.46 $3.46

-24.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.02 $1.02

$2.47 $2.47

-58.70%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.61 $34.61

$75.1 $75.1

-53.91%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.76 $4.76

$3.21 $3.21

48.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.97 $1.97

$1.39 $1.39

41.73%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$31.27 $31.27

$25.02 $25.02

24.98%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.88 $0.88

$1.24 $1.24

-29.03%

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

$36.2K $36.2K

$37.2K $37.2K

-2.77%

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

$25.6K $25.6K

$25.8K $25.8K

-0.74%

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

$132 $132

$192 $192

-31.56%

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

$42.77 $42.77

$67.8 $67.8

-36.94%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$60.7 $60.7

$60.9 $60.9

-0.31%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.26 $42.26

$53.6 $53.6

-21.11%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$25.56 $25.56

$27.90 $27.90

-8.39%

Cinema Ticket

$13.85 $13.85

$17.80 $17.80

-22.19%

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

$899 $899

$1,554 $1,554

-42.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.3K $21.3K

$31.4K $31.4K

-32.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.4 $50.4

$67.9 $67.9

-25.69%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.10 $30.10

$50.8 $50.8

-40.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.7 $97.7

$101 $101

-3.71%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$116 $116

$143 $143

-18.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,633 $1,633

$2,383 $2,383

-31.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$839 $839

$1,712 $1,712

-51.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,475 $2,475

$4,674 $4,674

-47.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,593 $1,593

$2,738 $2,738

-41.84%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,555 $1,555

$4,158 $4,158

-62.61%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,606 $1,606

$2,691 $2,691

-40.31%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,314 $3,314

$4,894 $4,894

-32.28%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.36

6.77

-6.06%

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

Last update for South Bend, IN: October 11, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

South Bend, IN

$839 45.2%

Chicago, IL

$1.7K 53.8% 104% $873

Groceries & Markets

South Bend, IN

$277 14.9%

Chicago, IL

$451 14.2% 63.2% $175

Eating Out

South Bend, IN

$250 13.5%

Chicago, IL

$353 11.1% 41.4% $103

Monthly Utilities & Internet

South Bend, IN

$235 12.7%

Chicago, IL

$321 10.1% 36.6% $86

Clothing & Footwear

South Bend, IN

$133 7.2%

Chicago, IL

$164 5.1% 23.3% $31

Sport & Entertainment

South Bend, IN

$70 3.8%

Chicago, IL

$89 2.8% 27.4% $19

Getting Around

South Bend, IN

$53 2.9%

Chicago, IL

$95 3% 78.5% $42

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,633 in South Bend, IN versus $2,383 in Chicago, IL. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 48% higher in Chicago, IL, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $59.0 in South Bend, IN versus $89.0 in Chicago, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $277 vs $451 – making South Bend, IN the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 South Bend, IN

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🕒 Local time

01:42 1:42 AM

00:42 12:42 AM

1 h behind South Bend, IN

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

103,453

2,746,388

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

South Bend, IN Chicago, IL 120 km

From you

South Bend, IN
Chicago, IL

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

South Bend, IN vs Chicago, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,856 in South Bend, IN, $3,185 in Chicago, IL – roughly 72% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,783 per month in South Bend, IN and $4,777 in Chicago, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in South Bend, IN, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 63% more in Chicago, IL, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $59.0 in South Bend, IN and $89.0 in Chicago, IL. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $1,856 in South Bend, IN and $3,185 in Chicago, IL. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,856 in South Bend, IN to $3,185 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with South Bend, IN. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chicago, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.