Cost to Open a Coffee shop in Chicago (2026)
A data-backed estimate of startup investment, monthly costs, revenue, and break-even — based on 2026 IL, USA benchmarks.
📍 IL, USA👥 Pop. 2.7M🍽️ F&B density: High
$125K
Total investment
$3K
Monthly rent
$36K
Monthly costs
5+ mo
Break-even
Startup investment breakdown
Construction & build-out$43,000
Equipment$36,000
Licenses, inventory & launch$18,000
Security deposit (3 months rent)$8,400
Working capital reserve$20,000
Total startup investment$125,400
Estimated monthly operating costs
Rent$2,800
Payroll$19,700
Food cost (~25% of revenue)$11,636
Fixed costs (internet, software, maintenance)$400
Variable costs (utilities, marketing, packaging)$1,750
Total monthly costs (at typical revenue)$36,286
Revenue & break-even estimate
Monthly revenue range (80–200 customers/day @ $5–$12/ticket)$13K–$80K/mo
Estimated monthly profit range-$15,007 – $35,522/mo
Time to recoup investment5+ months
Estimates for the Chicago area using 2026 IL, USA benchmarks. Actual rent and costs vary by exact location, lease terms, and concept. Run your own numbers for a precise projection.
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