Cost of Living Comparison Between Allentown, PA and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Allentown, PA and Chicago, IL

🙂 Solo nomad: Allentown, PA is 29.6% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 11.9% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Allentown, PA is 15.1% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 20.6% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.62 $19.62

$20.82 $20.82

-5.76%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$126 $126

$100 $100

26.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.85 $9.85

$11.97 $11.97

-17.71%

Cappuccino

$6.12 $6.12

$5.56 $5.56

10.07%

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

$2.41 $2.41

$3.11 $3.11

-22.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.73 $1.73

$2.42 $2.42

-28.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.1 $5.1

$6.86 $6.86

-25.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.16 $8.16

$8.45 $8.45

-3.43%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.19 $1.19

$1.04 $1.04

14.42%

White Bread (500g)

$2.12 $2.12

$4.15 $4.15

-48.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.4 $2.4

$5.52 $5.52

-56.52%

Eggs

$3.19 $3.19

$4.65 $4.65

-31.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.84 $14.84

$14.33 $14.33

3.56%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.65 $6.65

$14.88 $14.88

-55.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.93 $19.93

$19.34 $19.34

3.05%

Apples (1kg)

$7.44 $7.44

$5.17 $5.17

43.91%

Banana (1kg)

$1.48 $1.48

$1.71 $1.71

-13.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$4.41 $4.41

-37.41%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.22 $6.22

$4.51 $4.51

37.92%

Potato (1kg)

$2.54 $2.54

$2.53 $2.53

0.40%

Onion (1kg)

$3.2 $3.2

$2.74 $2.74

16.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.26 $2.26

$2.43 $2.43

-7.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.49 $2.49

$2.7 $2.7

-7.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.14 $10.14

$15.19 $15.19

-33.25%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.96 $14.96

$16.42 $16.42

-8.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.33 $2.33

$2.35 $2.35

-0.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.74 $2.74

$3.7 $3.7

-25.95%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.29 $2.29

$2.53 $2.53

-9.49%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$59.6 $59.6

$74.1 $74.1

-19.67%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.91 $4.91

$3.34 $3.34

47.01%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.14 $2.14

$1.42 $1.42

50.70%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.58 $42.58

$25.42 $25.42

67.51%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.88 $0.88

$1.08 $1.08

-18.52%

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

$29.4K $29.4K

$32.4K $32.4K

-9.21%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$26.2K $26.2K

-0.42%

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

$155 $155

$188 $188

-17.72%

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

$49.5 $49.5

$63.7 $63.7

-22.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.2 $62.2

$65.2 $65.2

-4.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.12 $31.12

$76.7 $76.7

-59.44%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$11.38 $11.38

$14.93 $14.93

-23.78%

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

$861 $861

$2,063 $2,063

-58.26%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.4K $11.4K

$39.2K $39.2K

-70.94%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.25 $36.25

$64.3 $64.3

-43.63%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.96 $47.96

$52.4 $52.4

-8.46%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.2 $73.2

$95.2 $95.2

-23.12%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$60.7 $60.7

$145 $145

-58.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,525 $1,525

$2,378 $2,378

-35.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,445 $1,445

$1,584 $1,584

-8.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,496 $2,496

$4,763 $4,763

-47.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,056 $2,056

$2,815 $2,815

-26.95%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,698 $2,698

$3,588 $3,588

-24.81%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,135 $2,135

$2,490 $2,490

-14.25%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,971 $2,971

$5,275 $5,275

-43.68%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.6

-2.42%

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

Last update for Allentown, PA: October 27, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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