Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Steamboat Springs, CO and Chicago, IL

For one person, living is cheaper in Steamboat Springs, CO: $2,706 a month against $3,139 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $5,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

131

Cost of Living Index in Steamboat Springs, CO
Learn more

Steamboat Springs, CO Living Index
152

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
Learn more

Chicago, IL Living Index

Jump to prices

Steamboat Springs, CO

🇺🇸 United States

$2,706

/mo nomad

Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,139

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Steamboat Springs, CO 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 Steamboat Springs, CO and in Chicago, IL actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,706 per month in Steamboat Springs, CO vs $3,139 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Steamboat Springs, CO $2,706
Chicago, IL $3,139

A couple spends around $4,065 per month in Steamboat Springs, CO vs $4,627 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Steamboat Springs, CO $4,065
Chicago, IL $4,627

A family of three spends $5,423 per month in Steamboat Springs, CO vs $6,115 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Steamboat Springs, CO $5,423
Chicago, IL $6,115

Steamboat Springs, CO is about 14% cheaper than Chicago, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both Steamboat Springs, CO and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – Steamboat Springs, CO by 100%, Chicago, IL by 132%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.76 $24.76

$20.65 $20.65

19.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$125 $125

$90.2 $90.2

39.02%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.03 $15.03

$12.94 $12.94

16.15%

Cappuccino

$6.92 $6.92

$5.60 $5.60

23.57%

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

$4.51 $4.51

$2.64 $2.64

70.83%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.82 $2.82

$2.27 $2.27

24.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.39 $7.39

$6.98 $6.98

5.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.68 $7.68

$8.83 $8.83

-13.02%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.00 $1.00

$1.27 $1.27

-21.26%

White Bread (500g)

$3.44 $3.44

$3.80 $3.80

-9.47%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.85 $3.85

$5.30 $5.30

-27.36%

Eggs

$4.13 $4.13

$4.76 $4.76

-13.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.32 $12.32

$13.96 $13.96

-11.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.58 $11.58

$14.61 $14.61

-20.74%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.06 $17.06

$18.77 $18.77

-9.11%

Apples (1kg)

$5.29 $5.29

$5.19 $5.19

1.93%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 $1.64

$1.98 $1.98

-17.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.28 $4.28

$3.93 $3.93

8.91%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.40 $5.40

$4.96 $4.96

8.87%

Potato (1kg)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.76 $2.76

-10.51%

Onion (1kg)

$2.93 $2.93

$2.76 $2.76

6.16%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.38 $2.38

$2.22 $2.22

7.21%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.26 $2.26

$2.98 $2.98

-24.16%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.87 $9.87

$14.02 $14.02

-29.60%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.66 $20.66

$15.28 $15.28

35.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.03 $2.03

$2.58 $2.58

-21.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.42 $3.42

$3.50 $3.50

-2.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.04 $2.04

$2.47 $2.47

-17.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.8 $74.8

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.05 $3.05

$3.34 $3.34

-8.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.99 $1.99

$1.43 $1.43

39.16%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.56 $30.56

$24.32 $24.32

25.66%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 $1.12

$1.26 $1.26

-11.11%

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

$32.1K $32.1K

$35.0K $35.0K

-8.38%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

0.11%

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

$199 $199

$193 $193

3.08%

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

$58.1 $58.1

$68.3 $68.3

-14.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.0 $74.0

$61.3 $61.3

20.73%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$71.3 $71.3

$54.1 $54.1

31.73%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.92 $27.92

Cinema Ticket

$14.15 $14.15

$17.74 $17.74

-20.24%

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

$1,388 $1,388

$1,652 $1,652

-15.98%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.3K $21.3K

$31.1K $31.1K

-31.31%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.1 $53.1

$66.1 $66.1

-19.69%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.97 $40.97

$51.2 $51.2

-20.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.6 $89.6

$100 $100

-10.55%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 $114

$141 $141

-18.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,222 $2,222

$2,446 $2,446

-9.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,301 $1,301

$1,678 $1,678

-22.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,232 $5,232

$4,717 $4,717

10.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,109 $2,109

$2,795 $2,795

-24.54%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,670 $2,670

$4,105 $4,105

-34.96%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,381 $2,381

$2,650 $2,650

-10.14%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,866 $4,866

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.57

6.81

-3.52%

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

Last update for Steamboat Springs, CO: October 19, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Steamboat Springs, CO

$1.3K 48.1%

Chicago, IL

$1.7K 53.5% 28.9% $376

Groceries & Markets

Steamboat Springs, CO

$411 15.2%

Chicago, IL

$449 14.3% 9.3% $38

Eating Out

Steamboat Springs, CO

$408 15.1%

Chicago, IL

$343 10.9% 15.8% $64

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Steamboat Springs, CO

$331 12.2%

Chicago, IL

$322 10.3% 2.6% $8.5

Clothing & Footwear

Steamboat Springs, CO

$134 5%

Chicago, IL

$161 5.1% 20.2% $27

Sport & Entertainment

Steamboat Springs, CO

$100 3.7%

Chicago, IL

$90 2.9% 10% $10

Getting Around

Steamboat Springs, CO

$21 * 0.8%

Chicago, IL

$95 3% 350% $74

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,222 in Steamboat Springs, CO versus $2,446 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $125 in Steamboat Springs, CO versus $90.0 in Chicago, IL. Groceries tell a different story – $411 in Steamboat Springs, CO vs $449 in Chicago, IL – so Steamboat Springs, CO wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Steamboat Springs, CO

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🕒 Local time

21:40 9:40 PM

22:40 10:40 PM

1 h ahead of Steamboat Springs, CO

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

13,000

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

Steamboat Springs, CO Chicago, IL 1,610 km ≈ 2 h 30 min nonstop flight

From you

Steamboat Springs, CO
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

Steamboat Springs, CO vs Chicago, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,706 in Steamboat Springs, CO, $3,139 in Chicago, IL – roughly 16% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in transport.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,059 per month in Steamboat Springs, CO and $4,708 in Chicago, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $125 in Steamboat Springs, CO and $90.0 in Chicago, IL. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 9% 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.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,706 in Steamboat Springs, CO and $3,139 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 $2,706 in Steamboat Springs, CO to $3,139 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Steamboat Springs, CO. 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.