Cost of living index
Chicago, IL
103.6 / 100
Living in Chicago, IL is 3.6% more expensive than the US average.
Overall prices
103.6
Housing / rent
112
vs US average
+3.6%
What it costs to live in Chicago, IL
Chicago, IL has an overall price level of 103.6 compared with the national average of 100, meaning everyday costs run about 3.6% higher than a typical US metro. Housing tells the sharper story: at 112 it is 12.0% above the national average. Because rent and mortgage payments are the biggest line in most household budgets, that housing figure is usually what you’ll feel most when you move here.
Compare Chicago, IL with
New York, NYLos Angeles, CADallas, TXHouston, TXWashington, DCPhiladelphia, PAAtlanta, GAMiami, FLPhoenix, AZBoston, MARiverside, CA
Common questions
Is Chicago, IL an expensive place to live?
Chicago, IL has an overall cost-of-living index of 103.6, where 100 is the US average. That makes it about 3.6% more expensive than the country as a whole.
Is housing expensive in Chicago, IL?
Housing in Chicago, IL scores 112 against a US average of 100 — roughly 12.0% above average. Housing is usually the largest single cost, so it drives most of the overall difference.
How does Chicago, IL compare to the US average cost of living?
Overall prices in Chicago, IL sit at 103.6 versus 100 for the US average, with housing at 112. Figures come from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis for 2024.