🇺🇸 USA
Chicago, USA
USA ✓ Live Numbeo data
The most affordable of the major US 'tier-1' cities; cold winters
Climate
Rainfall, humidity, and the best months to visit: see the full Chicago climate profile →
Internet speeds
Measured medians from 44,040 real speedtests within 10 km of the city center (Q1 2026) — not advertised ISP numbers.
| Download | Upload | Latency | Tests | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed broadband | 382 Mbps | 121 Mbps | 11 ms | 39,880 |
| Mobile | 308 Mbps | 38.6 Mbps | 23 ms | 4,160 |
Speedtest® by Ookla Global Fixed and Mobile Network Performance Maps, © Ookla. Accessed 2026-07-18. Your building's wiring and ISP plan matter more than the city median. Compare all cities in the Internet Speed Explorer →
Cost of living breakdown
USD converted from local prices at baseline rates (1 USD = 1 USD, 2026-06-16). Use the Cost of Living Explorer for live exchange rates.
| 💰 Monthly budgets | USD |
|---|---|
| Individual (excl. rent) | $1,269 |
| Individual all-in (excl. rent + 1BR center) | $3,676 |
| Family of 4 (excl. rent) | $4,647 |
| Average net salary (after tax) | $5,137 |
| 🏢 Rent & property | USD |
|---|---|
| 1BR city center | $2,407 |
| 1BR outside center | $1,694 |
| 3BR city center | $4,673 |
| 3BR outside center | $2,803 |
| Buy price / sqft — center | $361 |
| Buy price / sqft — outside | $240 |
| 🍽️ Food & dining | USD |
|---|---|
| Cheap meal (1 person) | $20.00 |
| Mid-range dinner (2 people) | $80.00 |
| Fast food combo | $12.00 |
| Beef (per lb) | $8.66 |
| Taxi (per mile) | $2.25 |
| ⚡ Utilities & lifestyle | USD |
|---|---|
| Basic utilities / mo | $186 |
| Phone plan / mo | $68 |
| Internet / mo | $63 |
| Gym membership / mo | $71 |
| Cinema ticket | $17.00 |
| Preschool / mo | $1,537 |
| International school / yr | $30,558 |
| New car (Corolla equiv.) | $36,531 |
Visa, taxes & legal in USA
Country-level research that applies to living in Chicago — each row links to the full comparison dashboard.
| Family-law exposure (payer) | Obligation 7/10 · cross-border collection 10/10 — legal detail → |
Location
Compare with nearby cities
Data last updated · Source: Numbeo