Cost of Living Breakdown by City — Rent, Food & Transport
See exactly where your money goes — rent, food, transport, utilities. Real Numbeo data for 65+ cities.
Chicago
United States
$3481
estimated /month
🏠 Rent
$2409
69%
🍽️ Food & Dining
$580
17%
🚌 Transport
$100
3%
💡 Utilities & Internet
$222
6%
🎉 Fun & Fitness
$171
5%
Assumptions: 1-bed city centre apartment, 20 restaurant meals + 15 coffees, 40 transit trips, basic utilities + internet, 12 beers + gym membership per month. Actual costs vary by lifestyle. Data from Numbeo.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to live in Europe per month?▼
Monthly costs range from ~$1,100 in Debrecen or Novi Sad to $3,500+ in Zurich or London. A single person in Central Europe (Prague, Warsaw, Budapest) typically needs $1,400–$2,000/month for rent, food, transport, and utilities.
What is the cheapest city in Europe to live in?▼
Among cities in our database, Debrecen (Hungary, $470/mo rent), Istanbul (Turkey, $500/mo), and Novi Sad (Serbia, $543/mo) are the cheapest in Europe. For Southeast Asia, Chiang Mai ($300/mo) and Bali ($350/mo) are even lower.
How is the cost of living breakdown calculated?▼
We use Numbeo data: rent (1-bed city centre), food (20 restaurant meals + 15 coffees), 40 transit trips, and basic utilities. It's a realistic single-person budget, not a backpacker minimum.
Is rent the biggest expense when relocating?▼
In most cities, rent is 40–60% of monthly costs. In expensive cities like Zurich or Amsterdam it can hit 70%. In affordable cities like Debrecen or Chiang Mai it drops to ~35–45%, leaving more headroom for everything else.
How does cost of living compare between Western and Eastern Europe?▼
Eastern European cities (Budapest, Warsaw, Prague, Krakow, Belgrade) typically cost 40–60% less than Western European equivalents. A $2,500/month lifestyle in Berlin becomes $1,200–1,600/month in Central or Eastern Europe — with comparable internet, safety, and urban amenities.