Cost of Living Comparison Between Wichita, KS and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Wichita, KS and Chicago, IL

🙂 Solo nomad: Wichita, KS is 14.9% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 26.9% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Wichita, KS is 19.5% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 24.5% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Wichita, KS
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.07 $20.07
$20.82 $20.82
-3.60%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$54.8 $54.8
$100 $100
-45.43%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.88 $9.88
$11.97 $11.97
-17.46%
Cappuccino
$4.75 $4.75
$5.56 $5.56
-14.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47 $2.47
$3.11 $3.11
-20.58%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81 $1.81
$2.42 $2.42
-25.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.64 $5.64
$6.86 $6.86
-17.78%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.9 $5.9
$8.45 $8.45
-30.18%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Wichita, KS
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.91 $0.91
$1.04 $1.04
-12.50%
White Bread (500g)
$3.77 $3.77
$4.15 $4.15
-9.16%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.3 $4.3
$5.52 $5.52
-22.10%
Eggs
$3.84 $3.84
$4.65 $4.65
-17.42%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.91 $9.91
$14.33 $14.33
-30.84%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.36 $10.36
$14.88 $14.88
-30.38%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.73 $17.73
$19.34 $19.34
-8.32%
Apples (1kg)
$5.58 $5.58
$5.17 $5.17
7.93%
Banana (1kg)
$1.64 $1.64
$1.71 $1.71
-4.09%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.14 $5.14
$4.41 $4.41
16.55%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.61 $4.61
$4.51 $4.51
2.22%
Potato (1kg)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.53 $2.53
6.72%
Onion (1kg)
$2.63 $2.63
$2.74 $2.74
-4.01%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.01 $2.01
$2.43 $2.43
-17.28%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.85 $1.85
$2.7 $2.7
-31.48%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.48 $9.48
$15.19 $15.19
-37.59%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.51 $14.51
$16.42 $16.42
-11.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.18 $2.18
$2.35 $2.35
-7.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.91 $3.91
$3.7 $3.7
5.68%
🚌 Getting Around
Wichita, KS
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.72 $1.72
$2.53 $2.53
-32.02%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$54.5 $54.5
$74.1 $74.1
-26.55%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.52 $2.52
$3.34 $3.34
-24.55%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.53 $1.53
$1.42 $1.42
7.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$26.06 $26.06
$25.42 $25.42
2.52%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.76 $0.76
$1.08 $1.08
-29.63%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7K $27.7K
$32.4K $32.4K
-14.63%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.6K $24.6K
$26.2K $26.2K
-6.35%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Wichita, KS
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$323 $323
$188 $188
71.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$55.8 $55.8
$63.7 $63.7
-12.42%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$74.4 $74.4
$65.2 $65.2
14.06%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Wichita, KS
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.35 $47.35
$76.7 $76.7
-38.28%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.13 $20.13
$13.03 $13.03
54.49%
Cinema Ticket
$12.79 $12.79
$14.93 $14.93
-14.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Wichita, KS
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$924 $924
$2,063 $2,063
-55.21%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16K $16K
$39.2K $39.2K
-59.24%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Wichita, KS
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.06 $45.06
$64.3 $64.3
-29.93%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.03 $38.03
$52.4 $52.4
-27.41%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$109 $109
$95.2 $95.2
14.86%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$112 $112
$145 $145
-22.81%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Wichita, KS
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$996 $996
$2,378 $2,378
-58.10%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$789 $789
$1,584 $1,584
-50.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,932 $1,932
$4,763 $4,763
-59.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,787 $1,787
$2,815 $2,815
-36.50%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,544 $1,544
$3,588 $3,588
-56.97%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,455 $1,455
$2,490 $2,490
-41.59%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Wichita, KS
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,563 $3,563
$5,275 $5,275
-32.45%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.52
6.6
-1.21%

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

Last update for Wichita, KS: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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