City cost comparison
Chicago vs Denver
Housing, childcare, healthcare, food, and education — side by side for families weighing Chicago, IL against Denver, CO.
Comparison matrix
Emerald badges flag the cheaper city for each line item; rose marks when the other city wins on cost.
| Metric | Chicago, IL | Denver, CO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| HousingFamily housing premium / month | $900 | $900 | About the same |
| ChildcareAvg monthly (infant → school-age) | $1,373 | $1,320 | +4% cheaper in Denver |
| HealthcareFamily premium share + child OOP / month | $660 | $643 | +3% cheaper in Denver |
| FoodPer child / month | $360 | $350 | +3% cheaper in Denver |
| EducationAnnual baseline ÷ 12 | $88 | $86 | +2% cheaper in Denver |
Illustrative planning baselines (updated 2026-01-15 / 2026-01-15). Verify local rates before major decisions.