Cost of Living Comparison Between Albany, NY and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Albany, NY and Chicago, IL

🙂 Solo nomad: Albany, NY is 7.9% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 10.7% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Albany, NY is 11.2% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 10.6% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.04 $19.04

$20.82 $20.82

-8.55%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$79.2 $79.2

$100 $100

-21.07%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.05 $13.05

$11.97 $11.97

9.02%

Cappuccino

$5.9 $5.9

$5.56 $5.56

6.12%

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

$2.83 $2.83

$3.11 $3.11

-9.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 $1.96

$2.42 $2.42

-19.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.15 $5.15

$6.86 $6.86

-24.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.9 $5.9

$8.45 $8.45

-30.18%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

White Bread (500g)

$3.83 $3.83

$4.15 $4.15

-7.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.76 $5.76

$5.52 $5.52

4.35%

Eggs

$5.25 $5.25

$4.65 $4.65

12.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.32 $14.32

$14.33 $14.33

-0.07%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.18 $14.18

$14.88 $14.88

-4.70%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.36 $17.36

$19.34 $19.34

-10.24%

Apples (1kg)

$4.67 $4.67

$5.17 $5.17

-9.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.71 $1.71

-16.96%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.71 $4.71

$4.41 $4.41

6.80%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.76 $4.76

$4.51 $4.51

5.54%

Potato (1kg)

$2.91 $2.91

$2.53 $2.53

15.02%

Onion (1kg)

$3.55 $3.55

$2.74 $2.74

29.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.25 $3.25

$2.43 $2.43

33.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 $1.78

$2.7 $2.7

-34.07%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.55 $14.55

$15.19 $15.19

-4.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.13 $13.13

$16.42 $16.42

-20.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$2.35 $2.35

-7.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.09 $4.09

$3.7 $3.7

10.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.53 $1.53

$2.53 $2.53

-39.53%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$65 $65

$74.1 $74.1

-12.26%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.86 $4.86

$3.34 $3.34

45.51%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$27.03 $27.03

$25.42 $25.42

6.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 $0.94

$1.08 $1.08

-12.96%

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

$29.4K $29.4K

$32.4K $32.4K

-9.19%

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

$25.3K $25.3K

$26.2K $26.2K

-3.61%

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

$212 $212

$188 $188

12.45%

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

$59.1 $59.1

$63.7 $63.7

-7.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$78.9 $78.9

$65.2 $65.2

20.95%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.7 $31.7

$76.7 $76.7

-58.68%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.85 $21.85

$13.03 $13.03

67.69%

Cinema Ticket

$15.01 $15.01

$14.93 $14.93

0.54%

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

$1,419 $1,419

$2,063 $2,063

-31.21%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$28.5K $28.5K

$39.2K $39.2K

-27.20%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.4 $51.4

$64.3 $64.3

-20.15%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.66 $45.66

$52.4 $52.4

-12.85%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.3 $84.3

$95.2 $95.2

-11.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$103 $103

$145 $145

-28.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,436 $1,436

$2,378 $2,378

-39.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,303 $1,303

$1,584 $1,584

-17.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,856 $2,856

$4,763 $4,763

-40.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,555 $2,555

$2,815 $2,815

-9.23%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,512 $3,512

$3,588 $3,588

-2.11%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,006 $3,006

$2,490 $2,490

20.71%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,766 $3,766

$5,275 $5,275

-28.60%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.6

-2.27%

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

Last update for Albany, NY: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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