Cost of Living Comparison Between Starkville, MS and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Starkville, MS and Chicago, IL

๐Ÿ™‚ Solo nomad: Starkville, MS is 33.8% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 20.6% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ™‚ Family of 3: Starkville, MS is 27.8% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 43.3% cheaper with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Starkville, MS
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.77 $16.77
$20.82 $20.82
-19.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$49.05 $49.05
$100 $100
-51.12%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.7 $6.7
$11.97 $11.97
-44.03%
Cappuccino
$4.47 $4.47
$5.56 $5.56
-19.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.45 $2.45
$3.11 $3.11
-21.22%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.84 $1.84
$2.42 $2.42
-23.97%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.06 $4.06
$6.86 $6.86
-40.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.89 $6.89
$8.45 $8.45
-18.46%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Starkville, MS
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.96 $0.96
$1.04 $1.04
-7.69%
White Bread (500g)
$2.66 $2.66
$4.15 $4.15
-35.90%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.65 $2.65
$5.52 $5.52
-51.99%
Eggs
$4.17 $4.17
$4.65 $4.65
-10.32%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.19 $8.19
$14.33 $14.33
-42.85%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.03 $9.03
$14.88 $14.88
-39.31%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.14 $15.14
$19.34 $19.34
-21.72%
Apples (1kg)
$3.73 $3.73
$5.17 $5.17
-27.85%
Banana (1kg)
$1.64 $1.64
$1.71 $1.71
-4.09%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.83 $2.83
$4.41 $4.41
-35.83%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.39 $4.39
$4.51 $4.51
-2.66%
Potato (1kg)
$2.16 $2.16
$2.53 $2.53
-14.62%
Onion (1kg)
$2.2 $2.2
$2.74 $2.74
-19.71%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.69 $1.69
$2.43 $2.43
-30.45%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.57 $1.57
$2.7 $2.7
-41.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.21 $8.21
$15.19 $15.19
-45.95%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.66 $12.66
$16.42 $16.42
-22.90%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.64 $1.64
$2.35 $2.35
-30.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.16 $3.16
$3.7 $3.7
-14.59%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Starkville, MS
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.99 $1.99
$2.53 $2.53
-21.34%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$74.1 $74.1
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.94 $4.94
$3.34 $3.34
47.90%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.68 $1.68
$1.42 $1.42
18.31%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$17.66 $17.66
$25.42 $25.42
-30.53%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.81 $0.81
$1.08 $1.08
-25.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.4K $34.4K
$32.4K $32.4K
6.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26K $26K
$26.2K $26.2K
-0.65%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Starkville, MS
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$177 $177
$188 $188
-5.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.05 $30.05
$63.7 $63.7
-52.83%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$64.1 $64.1
$65.2 $65.2
-1.72%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Starkville, MS
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.56 $42.56
$76.7 $76.7
-44.53%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.21 $8.21
$14.93 $14.93
-45.01%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Starkville, MS
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,010 $1,010
$2,063 $2,063
-51.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,289 $8,289
$39.2K $39.2K
-78.84%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Starkville, MS
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.15 $43.15
$64.3 $64.3
-32.90%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.53 $36.53
$52.4 $52.4
-30.27%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$87.5 $87.5
$95.2 $95.2
-8.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$130 $130
$145 $145
-9.84%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Starkville, MS
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$961 $961
$2,378 $2,378
-59.60%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,353 $1,353
$1,584 $1,584
-14.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,029 $2,029
$4,763 $4,763
-57.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,280 $1,280
$2,815 $2,815
-54.53%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,168 $2,168
$3,588 $3,588
-39.57%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,137 $2,137
$2,490 $2,490
-14.19%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Starkville, MS
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,813 $2,813
$5,275 $5,275
-46.68%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.55
6.6
-0.76%

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

Last update for Starkville, MS: October 27, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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