What it actually costs to live in Chicago right now.
Rent, the sales tax, a ride on the L, your ComEd bill, daycare. Every figure here links to the agency, filing or report it came from, so you can check it yourself.
Numbers last checked October 25, 2026.
The numbers
When a figure changes, we update it here and change the date. Colors match the topic, the same way they do on the L map.
| Topic | What | Cost | Since | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rent | Median one-bedroom rent | $2,079/mo | Sep 2026 | Zillow, via Axios |
| Taxes | Combined sales tax, most purchases | 10.5% | Aug 1, 2026 | Illinois Policy Institute |
| Taxes | Median homeowner property tax bill, tax year 2024 | $4,457 | Up 16.7% in a year | WBEZ |
| Taxes | Checkout bag tax | 15¢ a bag | Jan 1, 2026 | League of Women Voters Chicago |
| Transit | CTA train ride / bus ride | $2.50 / $2.25 | No change in 2026 | CTA fare chart |
| Transit | CTA 30-day pass | $75 | No change in 2026 | CTA fare chart |
| Utilities | ComEd price to compare, summer | 10.399¢/kWh | Jun 1, 2026 | MyUtilitySearch |
| Childcare | Infant care at a quality center | $1,800 to $2,900/mo | 2026 | Wonderschool |
| Wages | Chicago minimum wage (tipped $12.96) | $17.05/hr | Jul 1, 2026 | ABC7 Chicago |
A few Chicago ZIP codes and special districts, including O’Hare, charge up to 11% sales tax.
Out-of-date numbers you’ll still find online
Search any of these and the first answers are often wrong. Here’s what’s true as of this month.
You’ll read $2.75 to ride the L
Still $2.50
The CTA floated a 25 cent hike for 2026, then dropped it once Springfield passed the transit funding bill. That law blocks fare increases this year.
You’ll read 10.25% sales tax
10.5% now
The regional transit tax went from 1% to 1.25% on August 1. That’s another quarter on every $100 you spend, groceries included.
You’ll read $16.60 minimum wage
$17.05 now
Chicago’s rate rises every July 1 with inflation. Suburban Cook County sits lower, at $15.40.
Where a minimum wage paycheck goes
Full time at $17.05 an hour comes to about $2,955 a month before taxes. Here’s how far that gets you in a median one-bedroom.
Next stops
Guides we’re writing now, each built from the same sourced numbers.
How we check
We only use a number if we can link to where it came from: the CTA, the city, the Cook County Treasurer, the utility’s own filings, or reporting from local newsrooms. When sources disagree, as they do on rent, we show more than one and say why. See something wrong or out of date? Tell us and we’ll fix it.