Cost of Living in Chicago, IL
Updated November 2026 · Cook County · Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area · population 2,711,226
Prices in Chicago are 3.9% above the US average (local index 103.9; the BEA index for the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is 103.6), with goods the biggest cost driver at 107.3; a single adult's modelled budget is about $2,862 a month and the median rent is $1,440.
Prices by category
CostLiving local estimate. 100 = US average; 110 means prices are 10% higher. Housing reflects Chicago's own median rent compared with the area's average rent; goods, utilities and other services are BEA's official price parities for the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, unchanged.
Chicago price index by category, US average = 100: All items 103.9, Housing (rents) 106.7, Goods 107.3, Utilities 83.6, Other services 100.5
It is the 16th most expensive of the 32 Illinois cities in our data. More expensive than 57% of the cities we cover.
| BEA index | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 102.6 | 104.5 | 105.5 | 105.7 | 102.5 | 103.6 |
Monthly budget by household type
1 adult · 1-bedroom · modelled estimate for Chicago, IL
| Category | Per month | Per year | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | $1,161 | $13,932 | 41% |
| Utilities | $223 | $2,676 | 8% |
| Food at home | $303 | $3,636 | 11% |
| Transportation | $646 | $7,752 | 23% |
| Health care | $353 | $4,236 | 12% |
| Clothing, personal care & supplies | $176 | $2,112 | 6% |
| Total | $2,862 | $34,344 | 100% |
2 adults · 2-bedroom · modelled estimate for Chicago, IL
| Category | Per month | Per year | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | $1,286 | $15,432 | 29% |
| Utilities | $354 | $4,248 | 8% |
| Food at home | $559 | $6,708 | 12% |
| Transportation | $1,280 | $15,360 | 29% |
| Health care | $655 | $7,860 | 15% |
| Clothing, personal care & supplies | $348 | $4,176 | 8% |
| Total | $4,482 | $53,784 | 100% |
2 adults + 2 children · 3-bedroom · modelled estimate for Chicago, IL
| Category | Per month | Per year | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | $1,422 | $17,064 | 26% |
| Utilities | $431 | $5,172 | 8% |
| Food at home | $797 | $9,564 | 15% |
| Transportation | $1,700 | $20,400 | 31% |
| Health care | $610 | $7,320 | 11% |
| Clothing, personal care & supplies | $448 | $5,376 | 8% |
| Total | $5,408 | $64,896 | 100% |
Modelled estimate of basic costs, excluding taxes, child care and savings. Housing is rent excluding tenant-paid utilities (counted under utilities). See how the budget is calculated.
Housing costs in Chicago
Rent by number of bedrooms
| Size | Median rent |
|---|---|
| Studio | $1,237 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,325 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,467 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,623 |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,814 |
Median rent: Census ACS 2020-2024 median gross rent by bedrooms (rent plus tenant-paid utilities, all renters).
Rent, home values and affordability
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,440 |
| Median contract rent (excl. utilities) | $1,262 |
| Median home value | $334,100 |
| Owner costs with a mortgage | $2,339/mo |
| Median household income | $77,902 |
| Rent as % of renter income Moderate | 29.3% |
| Home value ÷ household income Moderate | 4.3× |
Census ACS 5-year 2020-2024.
Electricity and gas prices
Residential electricity in Illinois
19.32¢ per kWh, August 2026
12-month change: +7.2% (from 18.03¢) · US 18.16¢
Average household uses 697 kWh a month in Illinois ≈ $132/month. Source: EIA-861M (statewide average).
Regular gasoline regional figure: Midwest (PADD 2)
$4.10 per gallon, week of 2026-11-02
12-month change: +45.0% (from $2.83) · US $4.15
EIA weekly retail price survey; Illinois is covered by the Midwest (PADD 2) average.
Inflation in the Midwest
Consumer prices in the Midwest Census region rose +4.2% in the 12 months to September 2026 (US +3.7%). Nationally, food at home changed +1.8%, shelter +3.2% and energy +20.4%. Source: BLS CPI-U, not seasonally adjusted. CPI is published for regions and large metro areas, so the regional figure is shown.
Salary equivalent
Because prices in Chicago are 3.9% above the US average, $60,000 here has the buying power of about $57,700 in an average-priced US area.
Formula: US-equivalent = salary × 100 ÷ 103.9. Based on the local cost index (CostLiving estimate from BEA RPP and Census rents); taxes not included.
Nearby cities
| City | Distance | Index | Budget (single) | Median rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cicero, IL | 4 mi | 100.1 | $2,519 | $1,154 |
| Berwyn, IL | 5 mi | 100.9 | $2,571 | $1,215 |
| Oak Park, IL | 6 mi | 106.0 | $2,979 | $1,593 |
| Oak Lawn, IL | 9 mi | 102.5 | $2,835 | $1,335 |
| Skokie, IL | 14 mi | 105.5 | $2,871 | $1,552 |
| Evanston, IL | 14 mi | 108.3 | $3,147 | $1,762 |
Cities with a similar cost of living
| City | Index | Budget (single) | Median rent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atascocita, TX | 104.0 | $2,935 | $1,849 |
| South Lake Tahoe, CA | 103.9 | $3,063 | $1,606 |
| West Jordan, UT | 104.0 | $2,858 | $1,757 |
| Sparks, NV | 104.0 | $2,886 | $1,716 |
| Burleson, TX | 104.0 | $2,865 | $1,685 |
| Yuba City, CA | 104.0 | $3,000 | $1,454 |
Compare Chicago with another city
- Chicago vs Washington, DC: full comparison
- Chicago vs Atlanta, GA: full comparison
- Chicago vs Detroit, MI: full comparison
- Chicago vs Minneapolis, MN: full comparison
- Chicago vs Cicero, IL in the calculator
- Chicago vs Berwyn, IL in the calculator
- Chicago vs Oak Park, IL in the calculator
- Chicago vs Oak Lawn, IL in the calculator
- Chicago vs the Illinois average (100.0)
Frequently asked questions
Is Chicago, IL an expensive place to live?
Chicago has a local cost of living index of 103.9, which is 3.9% above the US average. This CostLiving estimate starts from the BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 for the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area (103.6) and adjusts housing to Chicago's own rents. It is 4.0 points above the Illinois average. It is the 16th most expensive of the 32 Illinois cities in our data. More expensive than 57% of the cities we cover.
How much money do you need to live in Chicago?
Our modelled estimate of basic monthly costs is $2,862 for a single adult, $4,482 for a couple and $5,408 for a family of four, before taxes, child care and savings. A $60,000 salary in an average-priced US area buys about the same as $62,400 in Chicago.
What is the average rent in Chicago?
The median gross rent (rent plus tenant-paid utilities) is $1,440 a month (Census ACS 2020-2024). By size: 1 bedroom $1,325, 2 bedrooms $1,467, 3 bedrooms $1,623. The typical renter spends 29.3% of household income on rent (moderate).
How much does a house cost in Chicago?
The median owner-estimated home value is $334,100, 4.3 times the median household income of $77,902 (moderate). Owners with a mortgage pay a median $2,339 a month in housing costs.
How much is electricity and gas in Chicago?
Illinois residential electricity averaged 19.32¢ per kWh in August 2026 (US 18.16¢). Regular gasoline was $4.10 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2) average, week of 2026-11-02).
Sources and notes
- Local cost index: CostLiving estimate from BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 for the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metropolitan statistical area (BEA index 103.6) with housing from Census ACS median rent (city figure); see the methodology.
- Rents, home values, income, population: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year 2020-2024, Census place 1714000 (Chicago city).
- Electricity: EIA-861M, Illinois residential average, August 2026.
- Gasoline: EIA weekly retail regular gasoline, Midwest (PADD 2), week of 2026-11-02.
- Inflation: BLS CPI-U Midwest region, September 2026.
- Budget baselines: BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey 2025; electricity use by household size: EIA RECS 2020.
- Gasoline price: regional figure (EIA publishes weekly prices for only 9 states).
Labels such as “county figure” or “state nonmetro figure” mark values that come from a larger area because the city-level figure is unavailable or unreliable. The monthly budget is a modelled estimate, not observed spending, and excludes taxes. This page is for general information and is not financial advice. Methodology · All sources