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

๐Ÿ™‚ Solo nomad: Vail, CO is 30.4% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 13.1% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ™‚ Family of 3: Vail, CO is 22.3% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 19.9% cheaper with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Vail, CO
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.2 $19.2
$20.82 $20.82
-7.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$75.5 $75.5
$100 $100
-24.73%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.02 $11.02
$11.97 $11.97
-7.94%
Cappuccino
$5.06 $5.06
$5.56 $5.56
-8.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47 $2.47
$3.11 $3.11
-20.58%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94 $1.94
$2.42 $2.42
-19.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.95 $5.95
$6.86 $6.86
-13.27%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.79 $6.79
$8.45 $8.45
-19.64%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Vail, CO
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.01 $1.01
$1.04 $1.04
-2.88%
White Bread (500g)
$3.56 $3.56
$4.15 $4.15
-14.22%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.28 $4.28
$5.52 $5.52
-22.46%
Eggs
$4.18 $4.18
$4.65 $4.65
-10.11%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.24 $12.24
$14.33 $14.33
-14.58%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.69 $11.69
$14.88 $14.88
-21.44%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.72 $15.72
$19.34 $19.34
-18.72%
Apples (1kg)
$4.86 $4.86
$5.17 $5.17
-6.00%
Banana (1kg)
$1.57 $1.57
$1.71 $1.71
-8.19%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.37 $4.37
$4.41 $4.41
-0.91%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.78 $4.78
$4.51 $4.51
5.99%
Potato (1kg)
$2.92 $2.92
$2.53 $2.53
15.42%
Onion (1kg)
$2.81 $2.81
$2.74 $2.74
2.55%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2 $2
$2.43 $2.43
-17.70%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.21 $2.21
$2.7 $2.7
-18.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.52 $9.52
$15.19 $15.19
-37.33%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.96 $13.96
$16.42 $16.42
-14.98%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86 $1.86
$2.35 $2.35
-20.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.33 $3.33
$3.7 $3.7
-10.00%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Vail, CO
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.96 $1.96
$2.53 $2.53
-22.53%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$74.1 $74.1
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.43 $3.43
$3.34 $3.34
2.69%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.64 $1.64
$1.42 $1.42
15.49%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$28.65 $28.65
$25.42 $25.42
12.71%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.86 $0.86
$1.08 $1.08
-20.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.2K $29.2K
$32.4K $32.4K
-9.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.6K $25.6K
$26.2K $26.2K
-2.22%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Vail, CO
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$184 $184
$188 $188
-2.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$53.9 $53.9
$63.7 $63.7
-15.43%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$68.3 $68.3
$65.2 $65.2
4.68%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Vail, CO
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.94 $42.94
$76.7 $76.7
-44.03%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.67 $13.67
$14.93 $14.93
-8.44%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Vail, CO
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,299 $1,299
$2,063 $2,063
-37.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.8K $23.8K
$39.2K $39.2K
-39.35%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Vail, CO
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.5 $51.5
$64.3 $64.3
-19.97%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.37 $40.37
$52.4 $52.4
-22.94%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$87.6 $87.6
$95.2 $95.2
-8.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113 $113
$145 $145
-21.60%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Vail, CO
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,574 $1,574
$2,378 $2,378
-33.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,375 $1,375
$1,584 $1,584
-13.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,609 $2,609
$4,763 $4,763
-45.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,221 $2,221
$2,815 $2,815
-21.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,722 $2,722
$3,588 $3,588
-24.13%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,449 $2,449
$2,490 $2,490
-1.66%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Vail, CO
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$5,275 $5,275
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.51
6.6
-1.36%

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

Last update for Vail, CO: October 27, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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