Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Topeka, KS and Chicago, IL

For one person, living is cheaper in Topeka, KS: $1,901 a month against $3,139 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $14,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

93

Cost of Living Index in Topeka, KS
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Topeka, KS Living Index
152

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
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Chicago, IL Living Index

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Topeka, KS

🇺🇸 United States

$1,901

/mo nomad

Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,139

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $1,901 per month in Topeka, KS vs $3,139 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Topeka, KS $1,901
Chicago, IL $3,139

A couple spends around $2,863 per month in Topeka, KS vs $4,627 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Topeka, KS $2,863
Chicago, IL $4,627

A family of three spends $3,825 per month in Topeka, KS vs $6,115 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Topeka, KS $3,825
Chicago, IL $6,115

Topeka, KS is about 39% cheaper than Chicago, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Topeka, KS and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – Topeka, KS by 40%, Chicago, IL by 132%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.27 $13.27

$20.65 $20.65

-35.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$51.2 $51.2

$90.2 $90.2

-43.21%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.03 $10.03

$12.94 $12.94

-22.49%

Cappuccino

$3.40 $3.40

$5.60 $5.60

-39.29%

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

$2.35 $2.35

$2.64 $2.64

-10.98%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.80 $1.80

$2.27 $2.27

-20.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.46 $4.46

$6.98 $6.98

-36.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.81 $8.81

$8.83 $8.83

-0.23%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.86 $0.86

$1.27 $1.27

-32.28%

White Bread (500g)

$2.70 $2.70

$3.80 $3.80

-28.95%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.94 $2.94

$5.30 $5.30

-44.53%

Eggs

$4.09 $4.09

$4.76 $4.76

-14.08%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.93 $8.93

$13.96 $13.96

-36.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.26 $8.26

$14.61 $14.61

-43.46%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.10 $15.10

$18.77 $18.77

-19.55%

Apples (1kg)

$4.90 $4.90

$5.19 $5.19

-5.59%

Banana (1kg)

$1.59 $1.59

$1.98 $1.98

-19.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.13 $5.13

$3.93 $3.93

30.53%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.13 $4.13

$4.96 $4.96

-16.73%

Potato (1kg)

$3.48 $3.48

$2.76 $2.76

26.09%

Onion (1kg)

$2.61 $2.61

$2.76 $2.76

-5.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.85 $1.85

$2.22 $2.22

-16.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.80 $0.80

$2.98 $2.98

-73.15%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.17 $9.17

$14.02 $14.02

-34.59%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.05 $12.05

$15.28 $15.28

-21.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.85 $1.85

$2.58 $2.58

-28.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.65 $1.65

$3.50 $3.50

-52.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.91 $3.91

$2.47 $2.47

58.30%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$49.53 $49.53

$74.8 $74.8

-33.75%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.70 $2.70

$3.34 $3.34

-19.16%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.52 $1.52

$1.43 $1.43

6.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$33.60 $33.60

$24.32 $24.32

38.16%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.88 $0.88

$1.26 $1.26

-30.16%

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

$26.3K $26.3K

$35.0K $35.0K

-24.75%

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

$26.3K $26.3K

$26.1K $26.1K

0.94%

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

$145 $145

$193 $193

-24.51%

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

$47.02 $47.02

$68.3 $68.3

-31.11%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.0 $65.0

$61.3 $61.3

5.97%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.11 $44.11

$54.1 $54.1

-18.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.09 $15.09

$27.92 $27.92

-45.95%

Cinema Ticket

$13.38 $13.38

$17.74 $17.74

-24.58%

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

$434 $434

$1,652 $1,652

-73.73%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.1K $31.1K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$38.71 $38.71

$66.1 $66.1

-41.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.08 $28.08

$51.2 $51.2

-45.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.7 $89.7

$100 $100

-10.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.4 $80.4

$141 $141

-42.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$792 $792

$2,446 $2,446

-67.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$835 $835

$1,678 $1,678

-50.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,283 $1,283

$4,717 $4,717

-72.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,496 $1,496

$2,795 $2,795

-46.49%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,443 $1,443

$4,105 $4,105

-64.84%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,334 $1,334

$2,650 $2,650

-49.65%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,708 $3,708

$4,866 $4,866

-23.79%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.24

6.81

-8.37%

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

Last update for Topeka, KS: October 17, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Topeka, KS

$835 43.9%

Chicago, IL

$1.7K 53.5% 101% $842

Groceries & Markets

Topeka, KS

$322 16.9%

Chicago, IL

$449 14.3% 39.7% $128

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Topeka, KS

$257 13.5%

Chicago, IL

$322 10.3% 25.2% $65

Eating Out

Topeka, KS

$234 12.3%

Chicago, IL

$343 10.9% 47.1% $110

Clothing & Footwear

Topeka, KS

$107 5.6%

Chicago, IL

$161 5.1% 51.2% $55

Getting Around

Topeka, KS

$75 4%

Chicago, IL

$95 3% 26.1% $20

Sport & Entertainment

Topeka, KS

$71 3.7%

Chicago, IL

$90 2.9% 26.4% $19

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $792 in Topeka, KS 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.

Salaries run about 31% 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 $51.0 in Topeka, KS versus $90.0 in Chicago, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $322 vs $449 – making Topeka, KS the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Topeka, KS

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🕒 Local time

12:45 12:45 PM

Same time as Topeka, KS

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

124,331

2,746,388

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

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Between locations

Topeka, KS Chicago, IL 750 km ≈ 1 h 30 min nonstop flight

From you

Topeka, KS
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

Topeka, KS vs Chicago, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,901 in Topeka, KS, $3,139 in Chicago, IL – roughly 65% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,851 per month in Topeka, KS 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 Topeka, KS, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 40% 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 $51.0 in Topeka, KS and $90.0 in Chicago, IL. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Topeka, KS, where all-in costs run around $1,901, than in Chicago, IL at $3,139. In Topeka, KS it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chicago, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,901 in Topeka, KS to $3,139 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Topeka, KS. 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.