Presidential Towers
555 W Madison St,
Chicago, IL 60661
Studio - 2 Beds | $1,540 - $9,080
Cost of Living in Chicago, IL
The cost of living in Chicago, IL is 14.4% higher than the national average. Generally, housing in Chicago is 39.1% more expensive than the national average, with rent falling between $1,488 – $2,834. You can expect to pay 3.8% more for groceries, 6.4% less for utilities, and 5.4% more for transportation.
+14.4%
Overall Cost of Living vs. National Average
+39.1%
Housing Cost vs. National Average
$1,488 - $2,834
Most Common Rent Range
Cost of Living Summary in Chicago, IL by Household Type
The cost of living in Chicago for a renter is 49.5% higher than the national average. If you are a renter, you can expect to pay around $6,747/month to cover basic household expenses. The following categories represent a breakdown of average monthly spending. Costs may vary based on location or market conditions.
Groceries
$657 per month
+3.6% higher than US avg.
Housing
$4,073 per month
+110.3% higher than US avg.
Utilities
$351 per month
-5.4% lower than US avg.
Transportation
$462 per month
+5.2% higher than US avg.
Healthcare
$149 per month
+5.7% higher than US avg.
Goods & Services
$1,055 per month
+6.5% higher than US avg.
The cost of living in Chicago for a home owner is 5.1% higher than the national average. If you are a home owner, you can expect to pay around $8,376/month to cover basic household expenses. The following categories represent a breakdown of average monthly spending. Costs may vary based on location or market conditions.
Groceries
$1,308 per month
+3.7% higher than US avg.
Housing
$2,318 per month
+8.1% higher than US avg.
Utilities
$763 per month
-6.6% lower than US avg.
Transportation
$1,002 per month
+5.3% higher than US avg.
Healthcare
$412 per month
+6.5% higher than US avg.
Goods & Services
$2,573 per month
+7.0% higher than US avg.
The cost of living in Chicago for a married couple with children under 6 is 16.0% higher than the national average. If you are a married couple with children under 6, you can expect to pay around $8,340/month to cover basic household expenses. The following categories represent a breakdown of average monthly spending. Costs may vary based on location or market conditions.
Groceries
$1,271 per month
+3.7% higher than US avg.
Housing
$2,868 per month
+49.7% higher than US avg.
Utilities
$735 per month
-6.3% lower than US avg.
Transportation
$950 per month
+5.1% higher than US avg.
Healthcare
$334 per month
+5.7% higher than US avg.
Goods & Services
$2,182 per month
+6.8% higher than US avg.
The cost of living in Chicago for a married couple with children 6-17 is 14.7% higher than the national average. If you are a married couple with children 6-17, you can expect to pay around $9,701/month to cover basic household expenses. The following categories represent a breakdown of average monthly spending. Costs may vary based on location or market conditions.
Groceries
$1,495 per month
+3.7% higher than US avg.
Housing
$3,170 per month
+42.8% higher than US avg.
Utilities
$805 per month
-5.8% lower than US avg.
Transportation
$1,067 per month
+4.9% higher than US avg.
Healthcare
$473 per month
+7.3% higher than US avg.
Goods & Services
$2,691 per month
+8.3% higher than US avg.
Average Housing Cost in Chicago, IL vs. National Average
Cost of Renting
The average rent in Chicago, IL is $1,847, which is 18.9% higher than the national average.
Start your search for an apartment in Chicago, IL, and view the average rent.
Chicago, IL
National Average
Apartment
$1,847/month
$1,553/month
+19%
Cost of Buying a Home
The average listing price for a home in Chicago, IL is $552,502, which is 10.9% higher than the national average.
Chicago, IL
National Average
Average House Cost
$552,502
$498,033
+11%
Cost of Living Details for Chicago, IL
Is Chicago expensive to live in?
Chicago’s overall cost of living is 14.4% higher than the national average, making it a more expensive city compared to other US locations.
What salary do I need to live comfortably in Chicago, IL?
To live comfortably in Chicago, IL, as a single adult with no dependents, you should aim for a salary around $80,964 before taxes. Expect to pay around $48,876/year for housing, $7,884/year for groceries, and $12,660 for goods and services. These costs will vary based on family size and location.
Groceries
The average cost of groceries in Chicago, IL is 3.8% higher than the national average.
Utilities
The average cost of utilities in Chicago, IL is 6.4% lower than the national average.
Healthcare
The average cost of healthcare in Chicago, IL is 7.0% higher than the national average.
Transportation
The average cost of transportation in Chicago, IL is 5.4% higher than the national average.
Goods & Services
The average cost of good and services in Chicago, IL is 7.7% higher than the national average.
Explore Apartments for Rent in Chicago, IL
Houses for Rent in Chicago, IL
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What is a cost of living index?
A cost of living index is a numerical tool designed to compare expenses in different locations. It tracks the prices of essential goods and services, such as housing, food, utilities, transportation, and healthcare and assigns a score to each region. This index helps renters understand how costly one city is compared to another, helping with financial planning and decision-making before moving to a new place.
How is cost of living calculated?
Cost of living is calculated by looking at the prices of a variety of recurring expenses that people typically need. This can include housing, food, healthcare, and other everyday expenses. Each of these categories is weighted based on its importance in a typical budget. The prices are then compared across different locations to determine how much more or less expensive it is to live in one place compared to another.
Housing
Housing refers to the money you spend on where you live. This includes paying rent if you live in an apartment or making mortgage payments if you own a home.
Food and Groceries
Food and groceries cover the cost of buying food and everyday items like fruits, vegetables, snacks, and drinks. It's all the food you eat at home and the basic supplies you need to keep your house running smoothly.
Utilities
Utilities are the basic services that keep your home comfortable and functional. This includes bills for electricity, water, and internet and phone services.
Healthcare
Healthcare includes the expenses for medical needs. This means the cost of seeing doctors and dentists, buying medicine, and paying for related healthcare services.
Transportation
Transportation costs cover the expenses involved in commuting and travel, including costs associated with personal vehicle upkeep.
Goods & Services
Goods and services cover other everyday expenses that you have. This includes buying clothes, paying for entertainment like movies or sports, and other services you might use, such as haircuts or gym memberships. These are the things you spend money on outside of basic necessities.
How to interpret your results
Knowing whether you’ll save or spend more on expenses in a new city can help you with budgeting. There are a few practical applications of this knowledge. If you're thinking of moving to a more expensive area, you may need to adjust your spending. A region with particularly high rent may encourage you to allocate more of your budget toward housing and less toward entertainment and restaurants, for example. A region with a lower cost of living overall means you may be able to increase your spending in certain areas.
Calculating your estimated cost of living in a new city helps you plan your budget accordingly. Play around with numbers to find a balance between essential spending and disposable income.
Learn More with Helpful Articles
Methodology
† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.
Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.
Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in November 2024.