Cost of living comparison
Chicago is 47.2% more expensive than Arkansas.
- Restaurants
-
pay 31.5% more in Chicago
- Groceries
-
pay 32.6% more in Chicago
- Transportation
-
pay 39.5% more in Chicago
- Housing
-
pay 33.7% more in Chicago
- Childcare
-
pay 2.1 times more in Chicago
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 47.3% more in Chicago
- Clothing
-
pay 31.7% more in Chicago
The cost of childcare, entertainment and sports, transportation, housing, groceries, and clothing in Chicago are more expensive than in Arkansas. Notably, childcare is significantly more expensive in Chicago.
If you lived in Chicago instead of Arkansas, you would:
pay 31.5% more for restaurants
|
Arkansas
|
Chicago
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$15.17
|
$25.00
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$10.46
|
$11.34
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.44
|
$3.02
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$1.90
|
$2.44
|
|
pay 32.6% more for groceries
|
Arkansas
|
Chicago
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$2.98
|
$4.19
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$4.73
|
$7.87
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$3.83
|
$3.94
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$2.98
|
$3.75
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$3.79
|
$6.63
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$2.13
|
$2.44
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.67
|
$0.90
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.47
|
$2.19
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$1.69
|
$2.27
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.23
|
$1.16
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$1.14
|
$1.37
|
|
pay 39.5% more for transportation
|
Arkansas
|
Chicago
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$2.96
|
$4.16
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$35.50
|
$75.00
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$29,279.05
|
$31,965.00
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$14.85
|
$14.43
|
|
pay 33.7% more for housing
|
Arkansas
|
Chicago
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$64.15
|
$58.52
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$1,193.14
|
$2,360.96
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$915.13
|
$1,512.92
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$157.55
|
$126.63
|
|
pay 2.1 times more for childcare
|
Arkansas
|
Chicago
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$1,045.28
|
$2,475.00
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$22,080.00
|
$42,300.00
|
|
pay 47.3% more for entertainment and sports
|
Arkansas
|
Chicago
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$5.33
|
$7.50
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$5.13
|
$5.30
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$7.77
|
$17.00
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$45.86
|
$72.00
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$12.83
|
$15.00
|
|
pay 31.7% more for clothing
|
Arkansas
|
Chicago
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$46.46
|
$64.98
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$39.79
|
$51.67
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$86.01
|
$97.00
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$101.19
|
$146.00
|
|
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