Cost of Living Comparison Between West Lafayette, IN and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between West Lafayette, IN and Chicago, IL

๐Ÿ™‚ Solo nomad: West Lafayette, IN is 24.4% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 21.6% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ™‚ Family of 3: West Lafayette, IN is 17.2% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 28.5% cheaper with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
West Lafayette, IN
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.98 $12.98
$20.82 $20.82
-37.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70 $70
$100 $100
-30.28%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.45 $6.45
$11.97 $11.97
-46.12%
Cappuccino
$4.44 $4.44
$5.56 $5.56
-20.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.83 $1.83
$3.11 $3.11
-41.16%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39 $2.39
$2.42 $2.42
-1.24%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.41 $5.41
$6.86 $6.86
-21.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.6 $3.6
$8.45 $8.45
-57.40%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
West Lafayette, IN
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.78 $0.78
$1.04 $1.04
-25.00%
White Bread (500g)
$1.99 $1.99
$4.15 $4.15
-52.05%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.06 $2.06
$5.52 $5.52
-62.68%
Eggs
$4.08 $4.08
$4.65 $4.65
-12.26%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.63 $14.63
$14.33 $14.33
2.09%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.32 $15.32
$14.88 $14.88
2.96%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.99 $18.99
$19.34 $19.34
-1.81%
Apples (1kg)
$4.03 $4.03
$5.17 $5.17
-22.05%
Banana (1kg)
$1.23 $1.23
$1.71 $1.71
-28.07%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.16 $2.16
$4.41 $4.41
-51.02%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.68 $2.68
$4.51 $4.51
-40.58%
Potato (1kg)
$2.48 $2.48
$2.53 $2.53
-1.98%
Onion (1kg)
$2.72 $2.72
$2.74 $2.74
-0.73%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.39 $2.39
$2.43 $2.43
-1.65%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.59 $2.59
$2.7 $2.7
-4.07%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.81 $14.81
$15.19 $15.19
-2.50%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.68 $11.68
$16.42 $16.42
-28.87%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68 $1.68
$2.35 $2.35
-28.51%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 $3.73
$3.7 $3.7
0.81%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
West Lafayette, IN
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.02 $1.02
$2.53 $2.53
-59.68%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$28.14 $28.14
$74.1 $74.1
-62.04%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.33 $3.33
$3.34 $3.34
-0.30%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.89 $0.89
$1.42 $1.42
-37.32%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$24.81 $24.81
$25.42 $25.42
-2.40%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.89 $0.89
$1.08 $1.08
-17.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.4K $31.4K
$32.4K $32.4K
-3.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8K $26.8K
$26.2K $26.2K
2.37%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
West Lafayette, IN
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$133 $133
$188 $188
-29.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$53.5 $53.5
$63.7 $63.7
-16.08%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$58.2 $58.2
$65.2 $65.2
-10.75%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
West Lafayette, IN
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.89 $39.89
$76.7 $76.7
-48.01%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.52 $12.52
$13.03 $13.03
-3.91%
Cinema Ticket
$8.03 $8.03
$14.93 $14.93
-46.22%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
West Lafayette, IN
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,000 $1,000
$2,063 $2,063
-51.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.1K $39.1K
$39.2K $39.2K
-0.30%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
West Lafayette, IN
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.6 $44.6
$64.3 $64.3
-30.65%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.6 $50.6
$52.4 $52.4
-3.36%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.3 $94.3
$95.2 $95.2
-0.96%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$147 $147
$145 $145
1.62%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
West Lafayette, IN
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,359 $1,359
$2,378 $2,378
-42.83%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,245 $1,245
$1,584 $1,584
-21.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,868 $1,868
$4,763 $4,763
-60.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,988 $1,988
$2,815 $2,815
-29.37%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,741 $1,741
$3,588 $3,588
-51.48%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,715 $1,715
$2,490 $2,490
-31.14%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
West Lafayette, IN
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$7,212 $7,212
$5,275 $5,275
36.72%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.53
6.6
-1.06%

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

Last update for West Lafayette, IN: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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