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Chicago vs Las Vegas cost of living 2026
Which is cheaper, what exactly is cheaper, and how it feels on your money ยท Updated October 2026
๐บ๐ธ Chicago
๐บ๐ธ Las Vegas
At a glance
- Where Las Vegas is clearly cheaper: Studio rent (month) (36%โ), Haircut (29%โ), Hotel night (17%โ)
- Where Chicago is clearly cheaper: Transit (54%โ), Half-day tour (40%โ), Street food (33%โ)
By category
Salary equivalence
Travel difficulty
Chicago is easier to travel (1.4 vs 1.6). Biggest gap: rip-offs & haggling โ Chicago 1 vs Las Vegas 2. Closer to 1 is easier. Difficulty ranking โบ
Item by item
| Item | Chicago | Las Vegas | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | $ 17$17 | $ 18$18 | Chicago โ6% |
| Street food1 item | $ 8$8 | $ 12$12 | Chicago โ33% |
| Restaurant dinnerper person | $ 42$42 | $ 45$45 | Chicago โ7% |
| Coffeeone cup | $ 5.5$5.5 | $ 6.5$6.5 | Chicago โ15% |
| Beerone bottle | $ 7.5$7.5 | $ 9$9 | Chicago โ17% |
| Cocktail & wineone cup | $ 15$15 | $ 17$17 | Chicago โ12% |
| Bottled water | $ 1.8$1.8 | $ 2$2 | Chicago โ10% |
| Convenience store1 snack or drink | $ 2.7$2.7 | $ 3.5$3.5 | Chicago โ23% |
| Taxi5 km in town | $ 17$17 | $ 16$16 | Las Vegas โ6% |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | $ 10$10 | $ 10$10 | similar |
| Transitone ride | $ 2.75$2.75 | $ 6$6 | Chicago โ54% |
| Scooter rentalper day | $ 57$57 | $ 70$70 | Chicago โ19% |
| Hotel night3-star | $ 180$180 | $ 150$150 | Las Vegas โ17% |
| Studio rent (month) | $ 1,950$1,950 | $ 1,250$1,250 | Las Vegas โ36% |
| Laundry | $ 4$4 | $ 4$4 | similar |
| SIM card1 week data | $ 30$30 | $ 25$25 | Las Vegas โ17% |
| Haircutcut | $ 35$35 | $ 25$25 | Las Vegas โ29% |
| Massage1 hour | $ 85$85 | $ 85$85 | similar |
| Half-day tourper person | $ 60$60 | $ 100$100 | Chicago โ40% |
| Entry ticketTourist town | $ 33$33 | $ 32$32 | similar |
Reference prices start as estimates from published price levels; items with 3+ traveler reports use the median of real reports. Hostels and local eateries cut both by 30%+.
FAQ
Which is cheaper, Chicago or Las Vegas?
Las Vegas is 11% cheaper than Chicago. Daily budget $334 vs $308; a month $6,737 vs $5,762.
Which is easier to travel, Chicago or Las Vegas?
Chicago is easier: Chicago 1.4/5 vs Las Vegas 1.6/5 (average of rip-offs, language, transport, payments and safety).
How do monthly costs compare between Chicago and Las Vegas?
With a short-term studio and living costs, Chicago is about $6,737 and Las Vegas about $5,762 per month.
Where do the numbers come from?
They start as estimates informed by published price levels; any item with 3+ traveler reports switches to the median of real reports. Live reports are in the app.