Cost of Living Comparison Between Thornton, CO and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Thornton, CO and Chicago, IL

๐Ÿ™‚ Solo nomad: Thornton, CO is 17.4% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 12.5% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ™‚ Family of 3: Thornton, CO is 23.8% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 11.1% cheaper with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Thornton, CO
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.92 $19.92
$20.82 $20.82
-4.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$86.1 $86.1
$100 $100
-14.18%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.94 $11.94
$11.97 $11.97
-0.25%
Cappuccino
$5.47 $5.47
$5.56 $5.56
-1.62%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01 $3.01
$3.11 $3.11
-3.22%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29 $2.29
$2.42 $2.42
-5.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.39 $6.39
$6.86 $6.86
-6.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.34 $7.34
$8.45 $8.45
-13.14%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Thornton, CO
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.03 $1.03
$1.04 $1.04
-0.96%
White Bread (500g)
$3.67 $3.67
$4.15 $4.15
-11.57%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.67 $5.67
$5.52 $5.52
2.72%
Eggs
$5.65 $5.65
$4.65 $4.65
21.51%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.49 $14.49
$14.33 $14.33
1.12%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.87 $12.87
$14.88 $14.88
-13.51%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.37 $18.37
$19.34 $19.34
-5.02%
Apples (1kg)
$4.45 $4.45
$5.17 $5.17
-13.93%
Banana (1kg)
$1.59 $1.59
$1.71 $1.71
-7.02%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.67 $3.67
$4.41 $4.41
-16.78%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.1 $5.1
$4.51 $4.51
13.08%
Potato (1kg)
$2.71 $2.71
$2.53 $2.53
7.11%
Onion (1kg)
$2.59 $2.59
$2.74 $2.74
-5.47%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.03 $2.03
$2.43 $2.43
-16.46%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.3 $2.3
$2.7 $2.7
-14.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.01 $10.01
$15.19 $15.19
-34.10%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.51 $16.51
$16.42 $16.42
0.55%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.26 $2.26
$2.35 $2.35
-3.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.62 $3.62
$3.7 $3.7
-2.16%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Thornton, CO
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)
$2.49 $2.49
$3.34 $3.34
-25.45%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.44 $1.44
$1.42 $1.42
1.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$23.91 $23.91
$25.42 $25.42
-5.94%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.81 $0.81
$1.08 $1.08
-25.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.9K $31.9K
$32.4K $32.4K
-1.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26K $26K
$26.2K $26.2K
-0.77%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Thornton, CO
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$176 $176
$188 $188
-6.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$73.2 $73.2
$63.7 $63.7
14.85%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$66.4 $66.4
$65.2 $65.2
1.84%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Thornton, CO
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.37 $43.37
$76.7 $76.7
-43.47%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.15 $15.15
$14.93 $14.93
1.47%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Thornton, CO
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,473 $1,473
$2,063 $2,063
-28.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.3K $16.3K
$39.2K $39.2K
-58.31%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Thornton, CO
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8 $57.8
$64.3 $64.3
-10.09%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.86 $37.86
$52.4 $52.4
-27.73%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.2 $98.2
$95.2 $95.2
3.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119 $119
$145 $145
-17.65%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Thornton, CO
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,618 $1,618
$2,378 $2,378
-31.96%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,378 $1,378
$1,584 $1,584
-13.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,787 $2,787
$4,763 $4,763
-41.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,566 $2,566
$2,815 $2,815
-8.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,795 $2,795
$3,588 $3,588
-22.10%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,493 $2,493
$2,490 $2,490
0.12%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Thornton, CO
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,368 $5,368
$5,275 $5,275
1.76%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.37
6.6
-3.48%

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

Last update for Thornton, CO: October 27, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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