Cost of Living in Chicago, Illinois

Living in Chicago comes with an average cost of living that is slightly higher than the US average. The median household income is $60,196 while the median home value is $261,400. Rent for a one-bedroom apartment averages around $1,200 per month in the city center but can be lower if you choose to live further away from downtown areas. Utilities such as electricity, water, gas, and internet are all relatively inexpensive while food costs tend to be similar throughout Illinois due to regional competition between grocery stores. Entertainment costs like tickets for concerts or sporting events can be expensive compared to other states but overall shopping tends to be cheaper due to the abundance of large malls in the city area.

Our cost of living indices are based on a US average of 100. An amount below 100 means Chicago is cheaper than the US average. A cost of living index above 100 means Chicago, Illinois is more expensive.

Chicago cost of living is 107.4