Cost of Living Comparison Between St. Cloud, MN and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between St. Cloud, MN and Chicago, IL

๐Ÿ™‚ Solo nomad: St. Cloud, MN is 38.1% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 17.8% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ™‚ Family of 3: St. Cloud, MN is 40.6% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 24.5% cheaper with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
St. Cloud, MN
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.12 $18.12
$20.82 $20.82
-12.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.9 $64.9
$100 $100
-35.29%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.89 $9.89
$11.97 $11.97
-17.38%
Cappuccino
$5 $5
$5.56 $5.56
-10.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$3.11 $3.11
-13.18%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37 $2.37
$2.42 $2.42
-2.07%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.07 $6.07
$6.86 $6.86
-11.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.91 $6.91
$8.45 $8.45
-18.22%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
St. Cloud, MN
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.8 $0.8
$1.04 $1.04
-23.08%
White Bread (500g)
$2.83 $2.83
$4.15 $4.15
-31.81%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.36 $3.36
$5.52 $5.52
-39.13%
Eggs
$2.19 $2.19
$4.65 $4.65
-52.90%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.83 $4.83
$14.33 $14.33
-66.29%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.43 $9.43
$14.88 $14.88
-36.63%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.19 $14.19
$19.34 $19.34
-26.63%
Apples (1kg)
$3.77 $3.77
$5.17 $5.17
-27.08%
Banana (1kg)
$1.15 $1.15
$1.71 $1.71
-32.75%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.24 $3.24
$4.41 $4.41
-26.53%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.23 $2.23
$4.51 $4.51
-50.55%
Potato (1kg)
$0.79 $0.79
$2.53 $2.53
-68.77%
Onion (1kg)
$1.62 $1.62
$2.74 $2.74
-40.88%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.98 $1.98
$2.43 $2.43
-18.52%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.87 $1.87
$2.7 $2.7
-30.74%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.11 $10.11
$15.19 $15.19
-33.44%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.06 $12.06
$16.42 $16.42
-26.55%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74 $1.74
$2.35 $2.35
-25.96%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.38 $4.38
$3.7 $3.7
18.38%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
St. Cloud, MN
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.94 $1.94
$2.53 $2.53
-23.32%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$74.1 $74.1
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.13 $5.13
$3.34 $3.34
53.59%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.38 $1.38
$1.42 $1.42
-2.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.17 $29.17
$25.42 $25.42
14.75%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.8 $0.8
$1.08 $1.08
-25.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.8K $35.8K
$32.4K $32.4K
10.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.1K $25.1K
$26.2K $26.2K
-4.35%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
St. Cloud, MN
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$219 $219
$188 $188
16.48%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$47.65 $47.65
$63.7 $63.7
-25.20%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$50.3 $50.3
$65.2 $65.2
-22.85%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
St. Cloud, MN
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.39 $43.39
$76.7 $76.7
-43.44%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.78 $13.78
$14.93 $14.93
-7.70%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
St. Cloud, MN
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,477 $1,477
$2,063 $2,063
-28.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$30.1K $30.1K
$39.2K $39.2K
-23.11%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
St. Cloud, MN
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$38.96 $38.96
$64.3 $64.3
-39.42%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.34 $41.34
$52.4 $52.4
-21.09%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$83.5 $83.5
$95.2 $95.2
-12.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$128 $128
$145 $145
-11.81%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
St. Cloud, MN
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,618 $1,618
$2,378 $2,378
-31.95%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,344 $1,344
$1,584 $1,584
-15.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,644 $2,644
$4,763 $4,763
-44.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,186 $2,186
$2,815 $2,815
-22.36%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,591 $2,591
$3,588 $3,588
-27.78%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,634 $2,634
$2,490 $2,490
5.76%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
St. Cloud, MN
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$8,674 $8,674
$5,275 $5,275
64.43%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.43
6.6
-2.58%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for St. Cloud, MN: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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