Cost of Living in Chicago, IL
Cost of Living in Chicago, IL | Compared to State Average | Compared to National Average |
---|---|---|
Housing (Buy and Rent) | 77% higher | 38% higher |
Utilities (Monthly) | 2% lower | 11% lower |
Food | 6% higher | 4% higher |
Healthcare | 15% higher | 8% higher |
Transportation | 4% higher | 8% higher |
Goods & Services | 11% higher | 7% higher |
The cost of living in Chicago, IL is 24% higher than the state average and 14% higher than the national average. Chicago, IL housing is 38% more expensive than the U.S average, while utilities are about 11% less pricey. When it comes to basic necessities such as food and clothing, groceries are around 7% more in Chicago, IL than in the rest of the country, while clothing costs around 7% more .
Healthcare services such as doctor check-ups and dentistry cost 8% more here compared to the U.S. average. At the same time, non-necessary expenses such as entertainment and grooming services are 7% pricier in Chicago, IL.
Housing is the most significant expense for most American households. The cost of living in a certain city takes into account both the price of rent and the price of a home. The average monthly rent in Chicago is $2,251, while home prices circle around $540,091.
Both owning and renting come with utility expenses. These costs include basic services such as energy and telecommunications. In Chicago, energy bills cost around $148.58 per month.
Food is the most important necessity and its cost varies around the country. This section includes the prices of everyday foods such as produce, meat and dairy. A bottle of milk costs about $4.87 in Chicago, a dozen eggs go for around $4.34 and a pound of potatoes circles around $4.90.
The benchmark for this category is based on the prices of family doctor visits and specialized services such as optometry. In Chicago, an optometry check-up costs around $118.27, while a dentist appointment is priced $128.22 on average.
Transportation expenses depend on multiple factors, with fuel being the most important. A gallon of gas is priced around $3.56 in Chicago, while getting your tires balanced will run you about $70.87.
The cost of clothing tells you how much more or less money you need to buy basic items such as jeans, shirts or slacks in a new city. A men's shirt costs around $37.07 here. Meanwhile, a pair of women's slacks will set you back around $31.26.
The cost of entertainment and everyday services is based on common expenses in each category. For a movie ticket in Chicago, you should budget around $17.91 a month. When it comes to personal services, a haircut usually goes for $33.69, while dry cleaning costs about $14.99.
The cost of living also takes median household income into account, so you can estimate how much more or less you could be earning in a new city by comparing it to the income in your current area. In Chicago, the median household income is $65,781.