Cost of living comparison
Chicago is 46.6% more expensive than Iowa.
- Restaurants
-
pay 40.7% more in Chicago
- Groceries
-
pay 20.2% more in Chicago
- Transportation
-
pay 28.6% more in Chicago
- Housing
-
pay 41.0% more in Chicago
- Childcare
-
pay 2.3 times more in Chicago
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 37.0% more in Chicago
- Clothing
-
pay 28.8% more in Chicago
The cost of childcare, housing, restaurants, entertainment and sports, clothing, and transportation in Chicago are more expensive than in Iowa. Notably, childcare is significantly more expensive in Chicago.
If you lived in Chicago instead of Iowa, you would:
pay 40.7% more for restaurants
|
Iowa
|
Chicago
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$15.50
|
$25.00
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$9.86
|
$11.34
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.25
|
$3.02
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$1.61
|
$2.44
|
|
pay 20.2% more for groceries
|
Iowa
|
Chicago
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$2.75
|
$4.19
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$5.26
|
$7.87
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$3.55
|
$3.94
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$2.97
|
$3.75
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$4.90
|
$6.63
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$2.27
|
$2.44
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.66
|
$0.90
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$2.31
|
$2.19
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$2.19
|
$2.27
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.17
|
$1.16
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$1.32
|
$1.37
|
|
pay 28.6% more for transportation
|
Iowa
|
Chicago
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$3.26
|
$4.16
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$41.60
|
$75.00
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$28,209.92
|
$31,965.00
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$15.53
|
$14.43
|
|
pay 41.0% more for housing
|
Iowa
|
Chicago
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$68.83
|
$58.52
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$1,149.79
|
$2,360.96
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$848.38
|
$1,512.92
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$132.52
|
$126.63
|
|
pay 2.3 times more for childcare
|
Iowa
|
Chicago
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$1,043.98
|
$2,475.00
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$19,039.50
|
$42,300.00
|
|
pay 37.0% more for entertainment and sports
|
Iowa
|
Chicago
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$4.95
|
$7.50
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$5.14
|
$5.30
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$8.68
|
$17.00
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$61.12
|
$72.00
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$12.83
|
$15.00
|
|
pay 28.8% more for clothing
|
Iowa
|
Chicago
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$50.44
|
$64.98
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$39.50
|
$51.67
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$83.35
|
$97.00
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$105.02
|
$146.00
|
|
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