Cost of Living Comparison Between Urbandale, IA and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Urbandale, IA and Chicago, IL

🙂 Solo nomad: Urbandale, IA is 22.2% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 21.1% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Urbandale, IA is 37.9% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 28.9% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.93 $14.93

$20.82 $20.82

-28.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$49.35 $49.35

$100 $100

-50.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.14 $10.14

$11.97 $11.97

-15.29%

Cappuccino

$5 $5

$5.56 $5.56

-10.07%

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

$1.27 $1.27

$3.11 $3.11

-59.16%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.95 $0.95

$2.42 $2.42

-60.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.33 $5.33

$6.86 $6.86

-22.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.08 $7.08

$8.45 $8.45

-16.21%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$1.04 $1.04

0.96%

White Bread (500g)

$3.32 $3.32

$4.15 $4.15

-20.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.02 $4.02

$5.52 $5.52

-27.17%

Eggs

$2.06 $2.06

$4.65 $4.65

-55.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.17 $14.17

$14.33 $14.33

-1.12%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.58 $10.58

$14.88 $14.88

-28.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.95 $12.95

$19.34 $19.34

-33.04%

Apples (1kg)

$3.24 $3.24

$5.17 $5.17

-37.33%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 $1.51

$1.71 $1.71

-11.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.55 $3.55

$4.41 $4.41

-19.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.31 $3.31

$4.51 $4.51

-26.61%

Potato (1kg)

$3.53 $3.53

$2.53 $2.53

39.53%

Onion (1kg)

$3.66 $3.66

$2.74 $2.74

33.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.12 $2.12

$2.43 $2.43

-12.76%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.31 $2.31

$2.7 $2.7

-14.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.26 $7.26

$15.19 $15.19

-52.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.02 $12.02

$16.42 $16.42

-26.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.75 $1.75

$2.35 $2.35

-25.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 $1.95

$3.7 $3.7

-47.30%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.02 $2.02

$2.53 $2.53

-20.16%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$66 $66

$74.1 $74.1

-10.95%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.56 $2.56

$3.34 $3.34

-23.35%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.22 $2.22

$1.42 $1.42

56.34%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$20.6 $20.6

$25.42 $25.42

-18.96%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.77 $0.77

$1.08 $1.08

-28.70%

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

$36.5K $36.5K

$32.4K $32.4K

12.72%

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

$25.8K $25.8K

$26.2K $26.2K

-1.69%

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

$141 $141

$188 $188

-25.12%

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

$14.74 $14.74

$63.7 $63.7

-76.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.56 $24.56

$65.2 $65.2

-62.33%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.6 $43.6

$76.7 $76.7

-43.17%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.4 $20.4

$13.03 $13.03

56.56%

Cinema Ticket

$14.88 $14.88

$14.93 $14.93

-0.33%

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

$1,390 $1,390

$2,063 $2,063

-32.58%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$28.5K $28.5K

$39.2K $39.2K

-27.37%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.3 $53.3

$64.3 $64.3

-17.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$21.84 $21.84

$52.4 $52.4

-58.31%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$44.98 $44.98

$95.2 $95.2

-52.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75 $75

$145 $145

-48.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,593 $1,593

$2,378 $2,378

-33.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,360 $1,360

$1,584 $1,584

-14.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,649 $2,649

$4,763 $4,763

-44.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,251 $2,251

$2,815 $2,815

-20.05%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,812 $2,812

$3,588 $3,588

-21.61%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,566 $2,566

$2,490 $2,490

3.05%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,670 $3,670

$5,275 $5,275

-30.42%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.5

6.6

-1.52%

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

Last update for Urbandale, IA: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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