Cost of living comparison
Chicago is 33.6% more expensive than Australia overall.
- Restaurants
-
pay 24.1% more in Chicago
- Groceries
-
pay 31.6% more in Chicago
- Transportation
-
pay 6.7% less in Chicago
- Housing
-
pay 38.6% more in Chicago
- Childcare
-
pay 2.3 times more in Chicago
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 14.7% more in Chicago
- Clothing
-
pay 5.2% more in Chicago
The cost of childcare, housing, groceries, restaurants, entertainment and sports, and clothing in Chicago are more expensive than in Australia. Notably, childcare is significantly more expensive in Chicago.
If you lived in Chicago instead of Australia, you would:
pay 24.1% more for restaurants
|
Australia
|
Chicago
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$16.76
A$26.95
|
$25.00
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$9.73
A$15.65
|
$11.34
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.56
A$4.13
|
$3.02
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$2.16
A$3.48
|
$2.44
|
|
pay 31.6% more for groceries
|
Australia
|
Chicago
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$2.37
A$3.81
|
$4.19
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$4.36
A$7.02
|
$7.87
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$5.80
A$9.33
|
$3.94
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$4.07
A$6.55
|
$3.75
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$3.94
A$6.34
|
$6.63
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$1.45
A$2.33
|
$2.44
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$1.26
A$2.02
|
$0.90
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.35
A$2.17
|
$2.19
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$2.01
A$3.24
|
$2.27
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.12
A$1.79
|
$1.16
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$0.96
A$1.55
|
$1.37
|
|
pay 6.7% less for transportation
|
Australia
|
Chicago
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$4.65
A$7.48
|
$4.16
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$83.03
A$133.56
|
$75.00
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$27,742.09
A$44,622.96
|
$31,965.00
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$18.38
A$29.56
|
$14.43
|
|
pay 38.6% more for housing
|
Australia
|
Chicago
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$55.59
A$89.42
|
$58.52
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$1,182.30
A$1,901.73
|
$2,360.96
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$957.92
A$1,540.81
|
$1,512.92
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$138.16
A$222.23
|
$126.63
|
|
pay 2.3 times more for childcare
|
Australia
|
Chicago
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$1,485.91
A$2,390.08
|
$2,475.00
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$14,667.78
A$23,593.03
|
$42,300.00
|
|
pay 14.7% more for entertainment and sports
|
Australia
|
Chicago
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$6.64
A$10.69
|
$7.50
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$3.55
A$5.70
|
$5.30
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$28.07
A$45.16
|
$17.00
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$52.89
A$85.07
|
$72.00
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$13.13
A$21.12
|
$15.00
|
|
pay 5.2% more for clothing
|
Australia
|
Chicago
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$71.78
A$115.45
|
$64.98
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$50.24
A$80.81
|
$51.67
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$100.30
A$161.33
|
$97.00
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$111.73
A$179.71
|
$146.00
|
|
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