Chicago ranks 9th of 19 priced cities in United States of America on cost — $2,701 a month in essentials, 25% above Omaha, the cheapest. The average net salary of $4,984 covers that 1.8×. 99 men per 100 women aged 20–39, measured at county level. PM2.5 averages 10.3 µg/m³ a year, 2× the WHO guideline of 5. Jan averages -3°C, Jul 23°C.
Monthly cost breakdown
Rent outside centre plus utilities, groceries, dining and local transport make up the essentials figure. Not a full lifestyle budget.
| Item | Monthly USD |
|---|---|
| Rent, 1-bed outside centre | $1,677 |
| Rent, 1-bed city centre | $2,443 |
| Groceries | $271 |
| Dining out | $420 |
| Utilities | $258 |
| Local transport | $75 |
| Essentials / mo | $2,701 |
| Avg net salary | $4,984 |
| Rent, 3-bed outside centre | $2,803 |
| Rent, 3-bed city centre | $4,673 |
Single person, USD. Data updated July 27, 2026.
Everyday prices
What single items cost in Chicago, in USD. The monthly figures above are built from these.
Eating out
| Item | USD |
|---|---|
| Meal, inexpensive restaurant | $20.00 |
| Meal for 2, mid-range, three courses | $80.00 |
| McMeal at McDonald's | $14.00 |
| Cappuccino, regular | $5.54 |
| Domestic beer, 0.5 L draught | $7.00 |
| Imported beer, 0.33 L bottle | $9.00 |
| Coke/Pepsi, 0.33 L | $2.72 |
| Water, 0.33 L bottle | $2.33 |
Groceries
| Item | USD |
|---|---|
| Milk, 1 L | $1.30 |
| White bread, 500 g | $4.20 |
| White rice, 1 kg | $5.61 |
| Eggs, 12 | $4.81 |
| Local cheese, 1 kg | $14.19 |
| Chicken fillets, 1 kg | $14.88 |
| Apples, 1 kg | $5.35 |
| Bananas, 1 kg | $1.87 |
| Tomatoes, 1 kg | $4.75 |
| Potatoes, 1 kg | $2.55 |
| Onions, 1 kg | $2.61 |
| Water, 1.5 L bottle | $2.69 |
Transport & bills
| Item | USD |
|---|---|
| One-way ticket, local transport | $2.50 |
| Monthly transit pass | $75.00 |
| Taxi start | $3.25 |
| Taxi, 1 km | $1.40 |
| Gasoline, 1 L | $1.15 |
| Basic utilities, 85 m² flat | $193.45 |
| Internet, 60 Mbps+ | $64.33 |
| Mobile plan, monthly | $67.86 |
Leisure
| Item | USD |
|---|---|
| Gym, monthly | $71.48 |
| Cinema, one seat | $17.00 |
Dating-age sex ratio
Chicago has 99 men per 100 women aged 20–39 (county level). That is the 14th-highest of 19 United States of America cities we track. United States of America's national figure is 106.9, so Chicago runs 8 below the country as a whole.
Every United States of America region by male-to-female ratio →
A supply figure, 20–39. The dating-pool model is in Pro.
Climate & air
Ten-year monthly means, 2015–2024 — a climate profile, not a forecast.
| Month | Avg | Feels | Humidity | Cloud | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | -3.1°C | -8.4°C | 75% | 77% | 65 mm |
| Feb | -1.9°C | -7.2°C | 70% | 66% | 56 mm |
| Mar | 3.2°C | -1.5°C | 69% | 66% | 84 mm |
| Apr | 7.9°C | 4.1°C | 68% | 64% | 111 mm |
| May | 14°C | 12°C | 72% | 64% | 122 mm |
| Jun | 19.9°C | 19.9°C | 72% | 55% | 100 mm |
| Jul | 22.7°C | 24.2°C | 75% | 53% | 93 mm |
| Aug | 22.4°C | 23.7°C | 74% | 50% | 77 mm |
| Sep | 19.5°C | 19.2°C | 73% | 50% | 73 mm |
| Oct | 12.6°C | 9.6°C | 70% | 57% | 102 mm |
| Nov | 5.5°C | 1°C | 70% | 61% | 62 mm |
| Dec | 0.7°C | -4.3°C | 74% | 72% | 68 mm |
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