Cost of living in Chicago
ACCOMMODATION
Three bedrooms: $3500 – $4500
UTILITIES
- Gas: Monthly price for a three bedrooms apartment: $80. The monthly amount varies according to the season.
- Electricity: Monthly price for a three bedrooms apartment: $52. The monthly amount varies according to the season.
FOOD
All prices are indicated without taxes. The prices indicated are the least expensive.
- One gallon of milk: $1.99
- One LB box of butter: $4.49
- One LB box of granulated sugar: $1.39
- Two LB bag flour: $2.00
- One dozen eggs: $1.19
- 48 Oz bottle of oil: $3.49
- One packaged bread: $1.19
- French baguette in a bakery: $2.59
- 16 OZ bag of rice: $1.39
- 5 LB bag of potatoes: $2.79
- 3 LB bag of apples: $2.99
- 1 bunch of tomatoes: $3.49
- 1 banana: $0.39
- 12 OZ bag coffee: $6.99
- 1 box of 48 tea bags: $2.99
TRANSPORT
- Taxi
As soon as you get in a cab in Chicago, you are charged $2,25. Then, every 1/9 of mile costs you $0,20, and every 36 seconds the rate increases by $0,20. If you are two travelers, you will pay $1 more and each additional passenger from two of them will pay $0,50.
For example, a ride from Lincoln Park to Water Tower on Michigan Avenue will costs you around $12 with the tip.
- CTA monthly pass: $86
- Petrol pump price: The current average price is $2.817 per gallon in Chicago.
LEISURE
- Cinema ticket: Ticket prices are between $10 and $14. It depends on locations and movies.
- Opera/ballet ticket: Ballet tickets range from $25 and $100. Opera tickets range from $35 and $194.
- Gym membership: Be aware that in most fitness centers you will have to pay the enrollment fee and the membership. Annual membership is around $300.
- Meal for 2 in an upmarket restaurant: $150
- Meal for 4 in a family restaurant: $60
MISCELLANEOUS
- Cable TV: The monthly prices range is from $70 to $120.
- Home internet: The monthly prices range is from $20 to $100.
- Mobile phone charge: The monthly cost is between $40 and $200 according to the chosen plan.
- Landline phone charge: The monthly cost is between $10 and $40 according to the provider.
- 1 hour of housekeeping: between $15 and $25 according to the tasks given.
1 hour of babysitter: The rates may vary with the age and the experience of the baby-sitter but also if you have one child or several children to babysit if they sleep or not.
- For one child: $10-$13 an hour
- For two children: $13-$15 an hour
- If the children sleep: $8-$10 an hour
- Shirt dry cleaning: $6 for a suit, $1.39 for a shirt.
SCHOOL FEES
Public schools: there are no tuition fees but you will have to contribute through the fundraising activities.
Private schools: it varies obviously from a school to another and sometimes from a grade level to another. The price range for the tuition fees only is from $11.000 to $25.000 a year. You will also have to pay fundraising.
