Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between West Plains, MO and Chicago, IL

For one person, living is cheaper in West Plains, MO: $2,596 a month against $3,072 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $5,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

123

Cost of Living Index in West Plains, MO
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West Plains, MO Living Index
146

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

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West Plains, MO

🇺🇸 United States

$2,596

/mo nomad

Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,072

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $2,596 per month in West Plains, MO vs $3,072 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

West Plains, MO $2,596
Chicago, IL $3,072

A couple spends around $3,771 per month in West Plains, MO vs $4,545 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

West Plains, MO $3,771
Chicago, IL $4,545

A family of three spends $4,946 per month in West Plains, MO vs $6,019 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

West Plains, MO $4,946
Chicago, IL $6,019

West Plains, MO is about 15% cheaper than Chicago, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both West Plains, MO and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – West Plains, MO by 92%, Chicago, IL by 127%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.83 $16.83

$20.39 $20.39

-17.46%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.5 $74.5

$88.6 $88.6

-15.89%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.88 $10.88

$12.85 $12.85

-15.33%

Cappuccino

$5.15 $5.15

$5.78 $5.78

-10.90%

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

$2.96 $2.96

$2.74 $2.74

8.03%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.40 $2.40

$2.26 $2.26

6.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.41 $5.41

$6.88 $6.88

-21.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.49 $6.49

$9.24 $9.24

-29.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.07 $1.07

$1.26 $1.26

-15.08%

White Bread (500g)

$2.70 $2.70

$3.55 $3.55

-23.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.80 $2.80

$5.38 $5.38

-47.96%

Eggs

$3.39 $3.39

$4.55 $4.55

-25.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.44 $10.44

$13.65 $13.65

-23.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.78 $11.78

$14.07 $14.07

-16.28%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$22.86 $22.86

$18.06 $18.06

26.58%

Apples (1kg)

$5.06 $5.06

$5.16 $5.16

-1.94%

Banana (1kg)

$1.40 $1.40

$1.98 $1.98

-29.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.45 $4.45

$3.88 $3.88

14.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.95 $3.95

$4.83 $4.83

-18.22%

Potato (1kg)

$2.78 $2.78

$2.81 $2.81

-1.07%

Onion (1kg)

$2.59 $2.59

$2.67 $2.67

-3.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.00 $2.00

$2.07 $2.07

-3.38%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 $1.83

$3.03 $3.03

-39.60%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.04 $9.04

$13.90 $13.90

-34.96%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.74 $13.74

$15.05 $15.05

-8.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.73 $1.73

$2.63 $2.63

-34.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.73 $1.73

$3.45 $3.45

-49.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.12 $2.12

$2.43 $2.43

-12.76%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$61.0 $61.0

$75.3 $75.3

-19.00%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.47 $2.47

$3.17 $3.17

-22.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.47 $1.47

$1.70 $1.70

-13.53%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.47 $24.47

$24.90 $24.90

-1.73%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 $0.94

$1.28 $1.28

-26.56%

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

$27.2K $27.2K

$35.8K $35.8K

-23.86%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$26.8K $26.8K

-3.22%

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

$216 $216

$192 $192

12.32%

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

$59.4 $59.4

$69.6 $69.6

-14.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$68.5 $68.5

$62.2 $62.2

10.08%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.77 $43.77

$47.79 $47.79

-8.41%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.10 $27.10

Cinema Ticket

$12.88 $12.88

$17.83 $17.83

-27.76%

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

$1,044 $1,044

$1,815 $1,815

-42.44%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.7K $17.7K

$40.6K $40.6K

-56.43%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.8 $51.8

$66.2 $66.2

-21.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.67 $38.67

$51.4 $51.4

-24.75%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.2 $84.2

$103 $103

-18.53%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$150 $150

$143 $143

5.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,786 $1,786

$2,531 $2,531

-29.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,291 $1,291

$1,621 $1,621

-20.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,463 $2,463

$4,828 $4,828

-48.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,087 $2,087

$2,734 $2,734

-23.66%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,103 $3,103

$4,163 $4,163

-25.48%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,073 $2,073

$2,723 $2,723

-23.88%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,924 $4,924

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.75

6.78

-0.44%

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

Last update for West Plains, MO: November 1, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: November 3, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

West Plains, MO

$1.3K 49.7%

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52.8% 25.6% $330

Groceries & Markets

West Plains, MO

$376 14.5%

Chicago, IL

$439 14.3% 16.9% $64

Monthly Utilities & Internet

West Plains, MO

$344 13.2%

Chicago, IL

$324 10.5% 5.8% $20

Eating Out

West Plains, MO

$291 11.2%

Chicago, IL

$344 11.2% 18.4% $53

Clothing & Footwear

West Plains, MO

$146 5.6%

Chicago, IL

$164 5.3% 11.9% $17

Getting Around

West Plains, MO

$79 3.1%

Chicago, IL

$97 3.2% 21.9% $17

Sport & Entertainment

West Plains, MO

$70 2.7%

Chicago, IL

$83 2.7% 20% $14

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,786 in West Plains, MO versus $2,531 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $75 in West Plains, MO versus $89 in Chicago, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $376 vs $439 – making West Plains, MO the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 West Plains, MO

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🕒 Local time

10:15 10:15 AM

Same time as West Plains, MO

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

12,184

2,746,388

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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Between locations

West Plains, MO Chicago, IL 680 km ≈ 1 h 15 min nonstop flight

From you

West Plains, MO
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

West Plains, MO vs Chicago, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,596 in West Plains, MO, $3,072 in Chicago, IL – West Plains, MO comes out roughly 15% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,894 per month in West Plains, MO and $4,608 in Chicago, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in West Plains, MO, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,786 there versus $2,531 in Chicago, IL.

Groceries cost about 17% more in Chicago, IL, though the gap depends on what you buy.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $75 in West Plains, MO and $89 in Chicago, IL. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,596 in West Plains, MO and $3,072 in Chicago, IL. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

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

For expats, West Plains, MO is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and overall it costs about 15% less, which matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.