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Cost of living
in Chicago
$3,073
Average cost per month
Distribution of expenses
Housing
46%Healthcare
12%Groceries
15%Utilities
8%Transit
2%Other
17%
Estimated monthly costs for one adult: typical rent across the metro area, USDA's moderate-cost food plan and U.S. government spending data — a typical budget, not a minimum.
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What makes Chicago special?
Chicago stretches along the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan, with the hot summers and cold winters of a continental climate. It is the nation's railroad hub and home of the first skyscraper, built in 1885, and no single industry employs more than 14% of its workforce. In Little Village, 26th Street, known as the Mexico of the Midwest, is the city's second-busiest shopping district by sales.
Monthly costs in Chicago
What everyday life costs in each city, side by side.
A full-time minimum-wage job in Chicago pays about $2,955 a month, $118 short of these costs.
| Total | |
|---|---|
| Housing | $1,406 |
| Healthcare | $355 |
| Groceries | $474 |
| Utilities | $252 |
| Transit | $75 |
| Other | $511 |
Estimated monthly costs for one adult: typical rent across the metro area, USDA's moderate-cost food plan and U.S. government spending data — a typical budget, not a minimum.
Sources, updated September 2026: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (Regional Price Parities, 2024); U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (Consumer Expenditure Surveys, 2024; Consumer Price Index); U.S. Department of Agriculture (Food Plans, July 2026); Federal Communications Commission (Urban Rate Survey, 2026); U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (Fair Market Rents, FY2026); U.S. Energy Information Administration (weekly retail gasoline prices); official fare pages of each city's transit agency; Latin America: crowdsourced cost-of-living platforms, used for reference.
Life in Chicago
A few things that make Chicago more than a number.
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The birthplace of the skyscraper and modern architecture.
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Compare Chicago with…
Side-by-side monthly costs for Chicago and each city in the tool.
- Barranquilla
- Bogotá
- Bucaramanga
- Cali
- Caracas
- Cartagena
- Cúcuta
- Cuenca
- Guayaquil
- Lima
- Medellín
- Pereira
- Quito
- Valencia
Cost of living in other US cities
Monthly costs for one person, city by city.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to live in Chicago?
About $3,073 a month for one adult, including rent for a one-bedroom apartment ($1,406). That covers housing, healthcare, groceries, utilities, transit and other everyday spending.
How much does a couple need to live in Chicago?
About $4,405 a month for two adults sharing a one-bedroom apartment. Rent and home internet are shared, so two people pay less than double.
What is the typical rent in Chicago?
A one-bedroom apartment rents for about $1,406 a month, a two-bedroom for about $1,476 and a three-bedroom for about $1,965. These are rents only; utilities are counted separately.
How much are groceries and utilities in Chicago?
For one adult, groceries run about $474 a month and utilities about $252, including home internet.
How much does transportation cost in Chicago?
About $75 a month for one adult.
Can you live on minimum wage in Chicago?
A full-time minimum-wage job in Chicago ($17.05 an hour) pays about $2,955 a month before taxes. Typical costs for one adult there are about $3,073 a month. Add your own income on this page to see what would be left.
Is Chicago expensive compared with other U.S. cities?
Of the 15 U.S. cities in this tool, Chicago is number 11 by monthly cost for one adult (1 is the most expensive).
How is the cost of living measured?
We add up typical monthly costs for one adult in six categories: housing, healthcare, groceries, utilities, transit and other everyday spending. U.S. figures are calculated from government data (Bureau of Labor Statistics, Bureau of Economic Analysis, HUD and the Energy Information Administration) plus transit agencies' published fares. Latin American figures come from crowdsourced cost-of-living platforms, and their healthcare costs are a modeled estimate. Minimum wages are each city's local rate where it has one, otherwise the state rate published by the U.S. Department of Labor. Figures were last updated in 2026.
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