The Cost of a Trip to Chicago
A journey to Chicago will usually cost from $109 to $818 for an individual and $217 to $1,636 for two people. The mid-range tends to hover around $288 per person daily, as calculated from our travel cost data from fellow travelers covering food, accommodation, sightseeing, and local transportation expenses. This is a fairly wide price range, and your individual expenses will vary by the level of luxury and travel style that you choose. For those seeking a balance between comfort and budget, booking standard accommodation and eating at typical restaurants, your expenses will be close to this calculated average. Read on for a detailed breakdown of travel expenses by category and a comprehensive overview of accommodation and activity costs tailored to your visit.
How much money should you budget for your trip to Chicago?
If you're considering an independent trip to Chicago, it's helpful to have an idea of the amount of money you'll need. For budget travelers, planning to spend around $109 per day should cover your essential expenses, including affordable accommodations like hostels and budget hotels, cost-effective meal options, local transportation, and affordable activities. For those with a mid-range budget, allocating around $288 per day would allow for more comfortable hotels, dining at typical restaurants, and exploring a range of popular attractions. Luxury travelers, on the other hand, should anticipate a daily budget of $818, which would encompass higher-end accommodations, dining at nicer restaurants, and indulging in private tour options. It's worth noting that these price ranges are based on extensive travel cost data for Chicago from fellow travelers, as well as insights from travel companies regarding hotel and tour prices. For further details on travel costs, you can refer to our comprehensive travel cost data for Chicago.
Average Daily Costs, Per Person, by Category
| Budget | Mid-Range | Luxury | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation1 | $74 | $198 | $568 |
| Local Transportation1 | $13 | $37 | $113 |
| Food2 | $19 | $49 | $135 |
| Water2 | $2 | $3 | $4 |
| Entertainment1 | $18 | $47 | $129 |
| Souvenirs1 | $8 | $20 | $49 |
| Communication2 | $3 | $6 | $13 |
| Living Expenses2 | $22 | $64 | $208 |
| Alcohol2 | $11 | $25 | $51 |
| Tips and Handouts1 | $6 | $6 | $6 |
How much does a weekend trip to Chicago cost?
Travelers spend, on average, $863 per person on a three-day trip to Chicago. This includes sightseeing, hotels, food, and local transportation. You can stick close to this average price by staying at mid-range hotels and eating at mid-level restaurants, while also paying for some entry tickets to popular attractions. If you wish to travel cheaper, it's possible to find lower-cost accommodations, eat at less expenive restaurants, and find more free activities. It's also common for many visitors to have a much higher travel budget, as many high-end hotels and restaurants can be found around town.
Chicago’s Elevated Train
How much does a five day trip to Chicago cost?
With five days in Chicago, you can expect to spend about $1,438 total, not including transportation to and from the city. It's possible to stay close to this daily average by booking mid-range hotels, eating at normal restaurants, and paying for some entry tickets to popular attractions. It's possible to find lower-cost accommodations, eat at less expenive restaurants, and find more free activities if you want to spent less money.
How much does a one week trip to Chicago cost?
Most visitors spend between $760 and $5,724 for a one week trip to Chicago, with the average being $2,013. This includes sightseeing, local transportation, food, and hotels. One week is enough time to have a more in-depth experience in Chicago. Also, one week allows you to be more flexible with your time and money, so you can potentially save money on some aspects of your trip while spending more on others.
Hostel Prices in Chicago
With more than 8 hostels in Chicago, the average price is $42 per night for a dorm bed. The cheapest hostel costs $18 and the most expensive is $125. Usually popular with younger travelers, hostels are a great way to save money while also being social. But not all hostels are the same, and we've analyzed the prices of both dorms and private rooms to find the average prices and best places to stay. You can see more details about the hostel prices in Chicago here.
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 in Chicago
- $34 for a dorm bed at Chicago Getaway Hostel in Chicago
- $18 for a dorm bed at Freehand Chicago in Chicago
Hotel Prices in Chicago
The average price for a hotel room in Chicago is $160 per night. This average is based on our detailed analysis of available hotels in the area. If you want to save money, or if you're planning a more luxurious trip, it's important to look at hotel prices based on the overall star-rating as well as guest reviews. Also, prices can vary by location and amenities. You can see more details from our analysis of hotel prices in Chicago here, and below is a breakdown of hotel prices by star-rating.
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 |
Chicago
Should you do a tour in Chicago?
You'll find a wide range of guided tours in Chicago and many visitors enjoy the convenience of having an expert guide leading them through the chosen activity. Tours range in price from $5 for the A Storied Neighborhood: A Self-Guided Audio Tour with Bill Ayers to $855 for the Chicago: Instagram Tour of the Most Famous Spots.
- Skip-the-line: Art Institute of Chicago Guided Tour:$74
- Chicago Loop Walking Tour:$60
- Chicago in a Day: Food and Architecture Private Walking Tour:$273
- Private Chicago Highlights Driving Tour:$190
- Chicago Shoreline Adventure Boat Tour:$90
- Walking Tour: Underground Chicago via the Pedway System:$60
- Small Group Lake Michigan Tour:$60
- Prairie Avenue Haunted History Tour and Ghost Hunt:$40
More for Chicago
If you're planning a trip to Chicago, Illinois, check out these other informative travel guides.
How much does a trip to the United States of America cost?Is the United States of America Expensive?Is Chicago Expensive?Is Chicago Worth Visting?
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.
1 Categories averaged on a per-item basis.
2 Categories averaged on a per-day basis.
For example, the Food2 daily average is for all meals for an entire day, while Entertainment1 is for each individual purchase. Thus, the overall daily average cost is not a summation of the individual categories.
