City cost profile

Cost of Living in Chicago

medium confidence Updated 2026-05-25 partially-audited

Estimated monthly cost benchmarks for Chicago, including rent, transport, utilities, meal prices, and normalized cost indexes. This page uses medium-confidence data intended for early planning.

Cost index 74.6 New York = 100

1BR rent $1,733 Zillow Rental Manager

Monthly transport $75 CTA/Pace 30-Day Pass

Monthly utilities $190 Numbeo city benchmark

Planning takeaway

Chicago is a mid-to-high cost city in the current sample, with housing and transport still worth validating by neighborhood.

Use the calculator to apply your own spending pattern. The city benchmarks below are a starting point, not a replacement for checking current rental listings and local transit options.

Estimate your own budget

Typical monthly costs

Average meal	$20
Estimated single-person monthly cost	$3,400
Estimated family monthly cost	$8,200
Rent index	53.2
Groceries index	82.8
Restaurant index	77.7

Data sources

Cost index: Numbeo current city index
Rent: Zillow Rental Manager
Transport: CTA/Pace 30-Day Pass
Utilities: Numbeo city benchmark
Last updated: 2026-05-25
Confidence: medium

View full data sources

FAQ

Is Chicago expensive?

Chicago has a cost index of 74.6 in this sample, where New York is 100. Use this as a relative signal rather than an exact monthly bill.

What is the biggest cost to check before moving to Chicago?

Rent is usually the largest variable. This page uses Zillow Rental Manager, but neighborhood and apartment quality can materially change the result.

How should I use these estimates?

Keep all calculator inputs in the same currency, compare relative changes, then verify local rent, transport, and utility prices before making a financial decision.

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