Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Warsaw, IN and Chicago, IL

For one person, living is cheaper in Warsaw, IN: $2,325 a month against $3,037 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $8,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

113

Cost of Living Index in Warsaw, IN
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Warsaw, IN Living Index
147

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

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Warsaw, IN

🇺🇸 United States

$2,325

/mo nomad

Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,037

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $2,325 per month in Warsaw, IN vs $3,037 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Warsaw, IN $2,325
Chicago, IL $3,037

A couple spends around $3,378 per month in Warsaw, IN vs $4,518 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Warsaw, IN $3,378
Chicago, IL $4,518

A family of three spends $4,431 per month in Warsaw, IN vs $5,999 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Warsaw, IN $4,431
Chicago, IL $5,999

Warsaw, IN is about 23% cheaper than Chicago, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Warsaw, IN and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – Warsaw, IN by 71%, Chicago, IL by 123%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.39 $12.39

$20.71 $20.71

-40.17%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.74 $47.74

$89.2 $89.2

-46.50%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.03 $9.03

$13.19 $13.19

-31.54%

Cappuccino

$4.88 $4.88

$5.66 $5.66

-13.78%

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

$2.26 $2.26

$2.64 $2.64

-14.39%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.62 $1.62

$2.28 $2.28

-28.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.11 $6.11

$6.87 $6.87

-11.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.66 $7.66

$8.84 $8.84

-13.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.21 $1.21

$1.25 $1.25

-3.20%

White Bread (500g)

$1.81 $1.81

$3.72 $3.72

-51.34%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.80 $1.80

$5.39 $5.39

-66.60%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$4.74 $4.74

-1.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.50 $8.50

$13.84 $13.84

-38.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.67 $11.67

$14.40 $14.40

-18.96%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.99 $11.99

$18.38 $18.38

-34.77%

Apples (1kg)

$2.17 $2.17

$5.22 $5.22

-58.43%

Banana (1kg)

$1.24 $1.24

$1.98 $1.98

-37.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.89 $1.89

$4.06 $4.06

-53.45%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.34 $2.34

$4.97 $4.97

-52.92%

Potato (1kg)

$2.66 $2.66

$2.67 $2.67

-0.37%

Onion (1kg)

$1.05 $1.05

$2.66 $2.66

-60.53%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.65 $1.65

$2.24 $2.24

-26.34%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.27 $1.27

$3.13 $3.13

-59.42%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.70 $9.70

$13.82 $13.82

-29.81%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.12 $10.12

$14.88 $14.88

-31.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.02 $2.02

$2.54 $2.54

-20.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 $2.73

$3.51 $3.51

-22.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.82 $1.82

$2.43 $2.43

-25.10%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.5 $54.5

$73.5 $73.5

-25.95%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.32 $3.32

$3.18 $3.18

4.40%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.12 $1.12

$1.39 $1.39

-19.42%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$20.32 $20.32

$25.03 $25.03

-18.82%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 $0.97

$1.20 $1.20

-19.17%

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

$34.4K $34.4K

$35.0K $35.0K

-1.88%

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

$23.6K $23.6K

$26.7K $26.7K

-11.35%

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

$163 $163

$194 $194

-16.23%

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

$19.69 $19.69

$69.5 $69.5

-71.65%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$60.9 $60.9

$61.6 $61.6

-1.27%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.25 $40.25

$47.90 $47.90

-15.97%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$50.7 $50.7

$27.34 $27.34

85.52%

Cinema Ticket

$10.03 $10.03

$17.81 $17.81

-43.68%

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

$998 $998

$1,794 $1,794

-44.34%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.9K $11.9K

$31.9K $31.9K

-62.62%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.5 $66.5

$67.0 $67.0

-0.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.7 $51.7

$52.1 $52.1

-0.79%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.5 $98.5

$102 $102

-3.03%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$121 $121

$144 $144

-15.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,590 $1,590

$2,526 $2,526

-37.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,271 $1,271

$1,578 $1,578

-19.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,522 $2,522

$4,738 $4,738

-46.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,139 $2,139

$2,693 $2,693

-20.57%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,817 $2,817

$4,190 $4,190

-32.75%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,351 $2,351

$2,768 $2,768

-15.05%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,611 $3,611

$4,931 $4,931

-26.77%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.81

-11.89%

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

Last update for Warsaw, IN: October 25, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Warsaw, IN

$1.3K 54.7%

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52% 24.1% $307

Groceries & Markets

Warsaw, IN

$281 12.1%

Chicago, IL

$447 14.7% 59.2% $166

Eating Out

Warsaw, IN

$246 10.6%

Chicago, IL

$345 11.4% 40.1% $99

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Warsaw, IN

$243 10.5%

Chicago, IL

$326 10.7% 33.7% $82

Clothing & Footwear

Warsaw, IN

$152 6.5%

Chicago, IL

$164 5.4% 7.8% $12

Getting Around

Warsaw, IN

$71 3%

Chicago, IL

$93 3.1% 32.2% $23

Sport & Entertainment

Warsaw, IN

$60 2.6%

Chicago, IL

$84 2.8% 38.5% $23

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,590 in Warsaw, IN versus $2,526 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 37% higher in Chicago, IL. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $48 in Warsaw, IN versus $89 in Chicago, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $281 vs $447 – making Warsaw, IN the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Warsaw, IN

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🕒 Local time

09:20 9:20 AM

08:20 8:20 AM

1 h behind Warsaw, IN

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

13,082

2,746,388

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.899 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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Warsaw, IN Chicago, IL 160 km

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Warsaw, IN
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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

Warsaw, IN vs Chicago, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,325 in Warsaw, IN, $3,037 in Chicago, IL – roughly 31% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,487 per month in Warsaw, IN and $4,555 in Chicago, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Warsaw, IN, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,590 there versus $2,526 in Chicago, IL.

Groceries cost about 59% 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 $48 in Warsaw, IN and $89 in Chicago, IL. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Families tend to lean toward Warsaw, IN – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Warsaw, IN. 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.