Cost of living comparison
Chicago is 28.0% more expensive than Indianapolis.
- Restaurants
-
pay 16.6% more in Chicago
- Groceries
-
pay 31.0% more in Chicago
- Transportation
-
pay 6.7% more in Chicago
- Housing
-
pay 8.6% more in Chicago
- Childcare
-
pay 44.0% more in Chicago
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 51.0% more in Chicago
- Clothing
-
pay 38.3% more in Chicago
The cost of entertainment and sports, childcare, clothing, groceries, restaurants, and housing in Chicago are more expensive than in Indianapolis.
If you lived in Chicago instead of Indianapolis, you would:
pay 16.6% more for restaurants
|
Indianapolis
|
Chicago
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$25.00
|
$25.00
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$10.00
|
$11.34
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.46
|
$3.02
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$2.15
|
$2.44
|
|
pay 31.0% more for groceries
|
Indianapolis
|
Chicago
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$3.16
|
$4.19
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$5.33
|
$7.87
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$3.00
|
$3.94
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$2.64
|
$3.75
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$4.90
|
$6.63
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$1.81
|
$2.44
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.56
|
$0.90
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$2.83
|
$2.19
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$1.44
|
$2.27
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.04
|
$1.16
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$1.26
|
$1.37
|
|
pay 6.7% more for transportation
|
Indianapolis
|
Chicago
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$3.52
|
$4.16
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$60.00
|
$75.00
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$35,000.00
|
$31,965.00
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$15.67
|
$14.43
|
|
pay 8.6% more for housing
|
Indianapolis
|
Chicago
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$72.22
|
$58.52
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$1,620.00
|
$2,360.96
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$1,116.88
|
$1,512.92
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$175.88
|
$126.63
|
|
pay 44.0% more for childcare
|
Indianapolis
|
Chicago
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$1,855.00
|
$2,475.00
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$27,350.00
|
$42,300.00
|
|
pay 51.0% more for entertainment and sports
|
Indianapolis
|
Chicago
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$6.50
|
$7.50
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$4.65
|
$5.30
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$8.36
|
$17.00
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$34.75
|
$72.00
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$13.00
|
$15.00
|
|
pay 38.3% more for clothing
|
Indianapolis
|
Chicago
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$49.40
|
$64.98
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$44.67
|
$51.67
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$65.80
|
$97.00
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$92.00
|
$146.00
|
|
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