Cost of Living Comparison Between Airway Heights, WA and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Airway Heights, WA and Chicago, IL

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,759 in Airway Heights, WA versus $3,051 in Chicago, IL.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,926 in Airway Heights, WA versus $4,638 in Chicago, IL.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,094 in Airway Heights, WA versus $6,224 in Chicago, IL.

Living in Airway Heights, WA costs roughly 10% less than in Chicago, IL, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Airway Heights, WA 106% above, Chicago, IL 128% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.35 $20.35

$20.67 $20.67

-1.55%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$64.6 $64.6

$100 $100

-35.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.79 $11.79

$11.86 $11.86

-0.59%

Cappuccino

$4.86 $4.86

$5.54 $5.54

-12.27%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.57 $2.57

$3.06 $3.06

-16.01%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.99 $1.99

$2.48 $2.48

-19.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.14 $6.14

$6.92 $6.92

-11.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.57 $6.57

$8.13 $8.13

-19.19%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.95 $0.95

$1.04 $1.04

-8.65%

White Bread (500g)

$3.07 $3.07

$3.91 $3.91

-21.48%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.21 $6.21

$5.42 $5.42

14.58%

Eggs

$4.61 $4.61

$4.48 $4.48

2.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.63 $16.63

$14.52 $14.52

14.53%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.75 $14.75

$15.21 $15.21

-3.02%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.95 $15.95

$19.25 $19.25

-17.14%

Apples (1kg)

$5.18 $5.18

$5.39 $5.39

-3.90%

Banana (1kg)

$1.88 $1.88

$1.69 $1.69

11.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.16 $5.16

$4.32 $4.32

19.44%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.73 $5.73

$4.51 $4.51

27.05%

Potato (1kg)

$2.80 $2.80

$2.56 $2.56

9.37%

Onion (1kg)

$2.77 $2.77

$2.70 $2.70

2.59%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.01 $2.01

$2.41 $2.41

-16.60%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.05 $2.05

$2.62 $2.62

-21.76%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.46 $11.46

$15.02 $15.02

-23.70%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.82 $14.82

$14.71 $14.71

0.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 $1.76

$2.48 $2.48

-29.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.06 $5.06

$3.69 $3.69

37.13%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.03 $2.03

$2.55 $2.55

-20.39%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.5 $75.5

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.13 $5.13

$3.29 $3.29

55.93%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.43 $1.43

19.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$39.30 $39.30

$24.72 $24.72

58.98%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 $0.94

$1.09 $1.09

-13.76%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$27.8K $27.8K

$31.8K $31.8K

-12.46%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.1K $26.1K

$26.4K $26.4K

-1.37%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$268 $268

$183 $183

46.07%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$56.0 $56.0

$61.8 $61.8

-9.43%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$73.5 $73.5

$65.0 $65.0

13.04%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.88 $42.88

$76.1 $76.1

-43.64%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.04 $13.04

Cinema Ticket

$15.27 $15.27

$14.75 $14.75

3.53%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,433 $1,433

$2,056 $2,056

-30.30%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.2K $16.2K

$38.5K $38.5K

-57.86%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.6 $51.6

$63.9 $63.9

-19.26%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.87 $49.87

$51.6 $51.6

-3.33%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.6 $85.6

$97.3 $97.3

-11.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$94.2 $94.2

$147 $147

-35.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,578 $1,578

$2,349 $2,349

-32.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,352 $1,352

$1,581 $1,581

-14.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,603 $2,603

$4,708 $4,708

-44.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,193 $2,193

$2,716 $2,716

-19.24%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,900 $2,900

$3,976 $3,976

-27.07%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,056 $2,056

$2,632 $2,632

-21.89%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,217 $4,217

$4,723 $4,723

-10.72%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.64

6.6

0.61%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Airway Heights, WA: April 22, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,578 in Airway Heights, WA and $2,349 in Chicago, IL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chicago, IL pays 12% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $65 in Airway Heights, WA vs $100 in Chicago, IL for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $437 vs $447 per month, with Airway Heights, WA cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Airway Heights, WA vs Chicago, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Airway Heights, WA wins on cost – living expenses run 11% lower than in Chicago, IL. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Airway Heights, WA the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, Chicago, IL earns 12% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,578 in Airway Heights, WA versus $2,349 in Chicago, IL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 2% higher in Chicago, IL. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $2,759 per month in Airway Heights, WA versus $3,051 in Chicago, IL – a 11% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Airway Heights, WA is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

Both work as nomad bases, but Airway Heights, WA delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,759 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Airway Heights, WA hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Airway Heights, WA and Chicago, IL are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Airway Heights, WA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 11% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.