Cost of living comparison
Chicago is 3.9 times more expensive than South Africa overall.
- Restaurants
-
pay 2.9 times more in Chicago
- Groceries
-
pay 2.6 times more in Chicago
- Transportation
-
pay 37.6% more in Chicago
- Housing
-
pay 3.5 times more in Chicago
- Childcare
-
pay 12.4 times more in Chicago
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 3.4 times more in Chicago
- Clothing
-
pay 46.0% more in Chicago
The cost of childcare, housing, entertainment and sports, restaurants, groceries, and clothing in Chicago are more expensive than in South Africa. Notably, childcare, housing, and entertainment and sports are significantly more expensive in Chicago.
If you lived in Chicago instead of South Africa, you would:
pay 2.9 times more for restaurants
|
South Africa
|
Chicago
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$8.97
ZAR167.89
|
$25.00
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$4.77
ZAR89.27
|
$11.34
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$0.95
ZAR17.86
|
$3.02
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$0.74
ZAR13.87
|
$2.44
|
|
pay 2.6 times more for groceries
|
South Africa
|
Chicago
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$0.99
ZAR18.54
|
$4.19
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$3.67
ZAR68.77
|
$7.87
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$4.20
ZAR78.56
|
$3.94
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$2.23
ZAR41.67
|
$3.75
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$2.03
ZAR37.95
|
$6.63
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$0.68
ZAR12.67
|
$2.44
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.62
ZAR11.55
|
$0.90
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$0.64
ZAR12.01
|
$2.19
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$0.70
ZAR13.07
|
$2.27
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$0.55
ZAR10.36
|
$1.16
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$0.61
ZAR11.39
|
$1.37
|
|
pay 37.6% more for transportation
|
South Africa
|
Chicago
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$4.99
ZAR93.35
|
$4.16
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$52.31
ZAR978.84
|
$75.00
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$20,607.77
ZAR385,612.54
|
$31,965.00
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$8.55
ZAR159.97
|
$14.43
|
|
pay 3.5 times more for housing
|
South Africa
|
Chicago
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$41.37
ZAR774.11
|
$58.52
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$382.55
ZAR7,158.34
|
$2,360.96
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$326.35
ZAR6,106.61
|
$1,512.92
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$80.40
ZAR1,504.41
|
$126.63
|
|
pay 12.4 times more for childcare
|
South Africa
|
Chicago
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$174.12
ZAR3,258.07
|
$2,475.00
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$4,033.53
ZAR75,475.36
|
$42,300.00
|
|
pay 3.4 times more for entertainment and sports
|
South Africa
|
Chicago
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$2.11
ZAR39.44
|
$7.50
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$1.88
ZAR35.23
|
$5.30
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$2.90
ZAR54.34
|
$17.00
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$29.50
ZAR552.01
|
$72.00
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$6.62
ZAR123.89
|
$15.00
|
|
pay 46.0% more for clothing
|
South Africa
|
Chicago
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$47.72
ZAR892.85
|
$64.98
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$32.06
ZAR599.89
|
$51.67
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$90.39
ZAR1,691.36
|
$97.00
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$81.37
ZAR1,522.54
|
$146.00
|
|
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