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

🙂 Solo nomad: Amherst, NY is 31.5% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 13.1% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Amherst, NY is 20.2% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 18.8% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.98 $17.98

$20.82 $20.82

-13.64%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$85.7 $85.7

$100 $100

-14.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.83 $11.83

$11.97 $11.97

-1.17%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

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

$2.21 $2.21

$3.11 $3.11

-28.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 $2.06

$2.42 $2.42

-14.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.85 $6.85

$6.86 $6.86

-0.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.31 $7.31

$8.45 $8.45

-13.49%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.94 $0.94

$1.04 $1.04

-9.62%

White Bread (500g)

$3.96 $3.96

$4.15 $4.15

-4.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.87 $4.87

$5.52 $5.52

-11.78%

Eggs

$3.98 $3.98

$4.65 $4.65

-14.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.99 $12.99

$14.33 $14.33

-9.35%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.48 $8.48

$14.88 $14.88

-43.01%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.25 $12.25

$19.34 $19.34

-36.66%

Apples (1kg)

$3.98 $3.98

$5.17 $5.17

-23.02%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 $1.21

$1.71 $1.71

-29.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.49 $5.49

$4.41 $4.41

24.49%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.09 $5.09

$4.51 $4.51

12.86%

Potato (1kg)

$2.45 $2.45

$2.53 $2.53

-3.16%

Onion (1kg)

$3.67 $3.67

$2.74 $2.74

33.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.5 $2.5

$2.43 $2.43

2.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.5 $2.5

$2.7 $2.7

-7.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.39 $12.39

$15.19 $15.19

-18.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.19 $15.19

$16.42 $16.42

-7.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.7 $1.7

$2.35 $2.35

-27.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.71 $4.71

$3.7 $3.7

27.30%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.04 $2.04

$2.53 $2.53

-19.37%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.85 $3.85

$3.34 $3.34

15.27%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.91 $1.91

$1.42 $1.42

34.51%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.5 $30.5

$25.42 $25.42

19.98%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 $0.97

$1.08 $1.08

-10.19%

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

$28.4K $28.4K

$32.4K $32.4K

-12.27%

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

$23.9K $23.9K

$26.2K $26.2K

-8.97%

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

$230 $230

$188 $188

22.36%

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

$46.31 $46.31

$63.7 $63.7

-27.30%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$60.4 $60.4

$65.2 $65.2

-7.33%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.56 $42.56

$76.7 $76.7

-44.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.74 $19.74

$13.03 $13.03

51.50%

Cinema Ticket

$13.85 $13.85

$14.93 $14.93

-7.23%

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

$902 $902

$2,063 $2,063

-56.27%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.9K $17.9K

$39.2K $39.2K

-54.23%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.87 $45.87

$64.3 $64.3

-28.67%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.48 $46.48

$52.4 $52.4

-11.28%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.3 $95.3

$95.2 $95.2

0.08%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 $113

$145 $145

-21.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,601 $1,601

$2,378 $2,378

-32.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,330 $1,330

$1,584 $1,584

-16.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,650 $2,650

$4,763 $4,763

-44.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,259 $2,259

$2,815 $2,815

-19.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,200 $3,200

$3,588 $3,588

-10.81%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,362 $4,362

$2,490 $2,490

75.17%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.6

-2.73%

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

Last update for Amherst, NY: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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