Is Chicago expensive to visit?
Chicago is a moderately priced destination with an average daily cost of $288. Compared to the rest of North America, which is known to be an expensive region, it is a moderately priced place to visit. It's ranked in the top 50% of cities in North America for its travel costs, comparable to places like Honolulu and Las Vegas.
Chicago’s Elevated Train
How expensive is Chicago?
The average cost of traveling to Chicago can vary widely based on many factors, but our calculations based on previous travlers show that the average daily cost is $288 (U.S. Dollars). Your travel style, accommodation preferences, dining choices, and trip duration can alter your individual budget, as you can find a wide array of accommodation, food, and entertainment options available for your visit. Sticking to mid-range hotels, affordable restaurants, and public transit when available can keep your costs close to this calculated average. See more travel costs for Chicago here.
How expensive is a weekend trip (three days) to Chicago?
Based on our calculations from previous travelers, a weekend trip to Chicago will cost around $863 per person. This amount includes sightseeing activities, hotels, restaurants, local transportation, and other travel expenses. For two people, a weekend trip would cost $1,725.
How expensive is a one week (7-day) trip to Chicago?
On average, a one week trip to Chicago costs about $2,013 per person. This is based on the previous expenses of actual travelers, and includes accommodation, food, activities, local transportation, and more. For two people, a one week trip costs $4,026.
Chicago
Is it expensive to backpack in Chicago?
Chicago is a fairly common backpacker destination with more than 7 hostels in the area. Dorm beds in hostels average about $34 per night. (See hostel prices in Chicago here.) Keep in mind that you'll find a wide range in prices here, too. The most expensive beds are priced around $60 and the cheapest around $22 per night.
Here are a few sample prices from popular hostels in Chicago.
- $26 for a dorm bed at HI Chicago, The J.Ira & Nicki Harris Family Hostel
- $42 for a dorm bed at Chicago Getaway Hostel
- $22 for a dorm bed at Freehand Chicago
Are hotels expensive in Chicago?
From our analysis of hotel prices in Chicago, we can see that they are fairly affordable and lower in price in comparison to the rest of the world. On average, a night in a hotel room costs approximately $160. The area hosts around 7 five-star hotels, averaging $473 per night. For those with an eye on both comfort and economy, three-star hotels present a reasonable choice at an average of $153 per night, while two-star hotels offer an even more economical option at $107 per night.
Hotels by star rating in Chicago
| Rating | Number of Hotels | Average Hotel Price |
|---|---|---|
| 5 stars | 7 | $473 |
| 4 stars | 74 | $185 |
| 3 stars | 84 | $153 |
| 2 stars | 25 | $107 |
| 1 star | 2 | $37 |
| No rating | 6 | $150 |
How expensive are sightseeing activities in Chicago?
Activities and things to do in Chicago can vary in price depending on the type of activity, length, and location. Below are a number of popular activities to give you an idea of what to expect when visiting. Generally, previous travelers have spent $47 per day on sightseeing activities and things to do when visiting, which is less than the country's average of $55.
- Chicago Architecture Walking Tour: What's New: $30
- Private Chicago Highlights Driving Tour: $190
- Chicago Shoreline Adventure Boat Tour: $90
- Chicago Walking Tour - West Town: $50
- Walking Tour: Chicago Prairie Ave District - Street of the Elite: $75
- Prairie Avenue Haunted History Tour and Ghost Hunt: $40
- Walking Tour: Historic Chicago Pubs in River North and the Loop: $60
- Chicago Lakefront Electric Bike Tour: $69
Is food expensive in Chicago?
Food in Chicago can vary in price depending on the restaurant and food options available. Generally, other travelers have spent $49 on food per person per day, which is less than the country's average of $58. To save money, eat at less expensive restaurants, try street food, or cook your own meals when possible.
- Saturday Chicago Pizza History and Tastings Bus Tour: $99
- Chicago Bucktown-Wicker Park Pizza Crawl: $79
- Chicago West Loop Pizza Crawl: $79
- Traveling Spoon Chicago-Style Deep Dish Pizza Private Online Cooking Class : $40
- Fun Chicago Bike Tour with Pizza, Hot Dogs, Cupcakes and Beer: $179
- Chicago's Delicious Donut Adventure and Walking Food Tour: $63
Is transportation expensive in Chicago?
Exploring local transportation in Chicago shows that the price can vary greatly by the type of transportation used. On average, previous travelers have spent $37 per person per day, which is less than the country's average of $46. If you want to save money, use public transit as it's much cheaper than taxis or private drivers.
More for Chicago
If you're planning a trip to Chicago, Illinois, check out these other informative travel guides.
We've been gathering travel costs from tens of thousands of actual travelers since 2010, and we use the data to calculate average daily travel costs for destinations around the world. We also systematically analyze the prices of hotels, hostels, and tours from travel providers such as Kayak, HostelWorld, TourRadar, Viator, and others. This combination of expenses from actual travelers, combined with pricing data from major travel companies, gives us a uniqe insight into the overall cost of travel for thousands of cities in countries around the world. You can see more here: How it Works.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.