The cost of living in Chicago is reflected by an index of 91, with rent index at 86. This page helps compare living expenses, rent, groceries, and affordability in Chicago.
Chicago has a cost of living index of 91 and a rent index of 86. That makes it one of the more expensive places in this starter dataset. Grocery and restaurant costs are shown below to help users compare daily spending.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost of living index | 91 |
| Rent index | 86 |
| Groceries index | 94 |
| Restaurant price index | 96 |
| Local purchasing power | 106 |
| 1-bed rent in city centre | $2,964 |
| 1-bed rent outside centre | $2,371 |
Users often compare local prices with local pay. See the average salary in Chicago.
This page shows the relative cost, rent, grocery, and restaurant indices so users can compare Chicago with other places in the US.
The sample dataset on this starter site uses a one-bedroom city-centre rent estimate of $2,964 per month.
Sources: Numbeo for cost of living metrics. Cost update: 2026-04-01. Salary context from BLS 2025.