Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Anacortes, WA and Chicago, IL

For one person, living is cheaper in Anacortes, WA: $2,527 a month against $3,037 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $6,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

122

Cost of Living Index in Anacortes, WA
Learn more

Anacortes, WA Living Index
147

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
Learn more

Chicago, IL Living Index

Jump to prices

Anacortes, WA

🇺🇸 United States

$2,527

/mo nomad

Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,037

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Anacortes, WA and in Chicago, IL

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Anacortes, WA and in Chicago, IL actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,527 in Anacortes, WA versus $3,037 in Chicago, IL.

Anacortes, WA $2,527
Chicago, IL $3,037

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,761 in Anacortes, WA versus $4,518 in Chicago, IL.

Anacortes, WA $3,761
Chicago, IL $4,518

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,995 in Anacortes, WA versus $5,999 in Chicago, IL.

Anacortes, WA $4,995
Chicago, IL $5,999

Living in Anacortes, WA costs roughly 17% less than in Chicago, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Anacortes, WA 86% above, Chicago, IL 123% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.81 $17.81

$20.71 $20.71

-14.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$84.6 $84.6

$89.2 $89.2

-5.24%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.55 $13.55

$13.19 $13.19

2.73%

Cappuccino

$5.04 $5.04

$5.66 $5.66

-10.95%

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

$2.29 $2.29

$2.64 $2.64

-13.26%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 $2.03

$2.28 $2.28

-10.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.46 $5.46

$6.87 $6.87

-20.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.14 $6.14

$8.84 $8.84

-30.54%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$1.25 $1.25

-12.80%

White Bread (500g)

$4.93 $4.93

$3.72 $3.72

32.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.75 $1.75

$5.39 $5.39

-67.53%

Eggs

$4.09 $4.09

$4.74 $4.74

-13.71%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.24 $11.24

$13.84 $13.84

-18.79%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.52 $14.52

$14.40 $14.40

0.83%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.03 $23.03

$18.38 $18.38

25.30%

Apples (1kg)

$6.04 $6.04

$5.22 $5.22

15.71%

Banana (1kg)

$1.86 $1.86

$1.98 $1.98

-6.06%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.19 $3.19

$4.06 $4.06

-21.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.54 $5.54

$4.97 $4.97

11.47%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 $1.38

$2.67 $2.67

-48.31%

Onion (1kg)

$3.17 $3.17

$2.66 $2.66

19.17%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.53 $1.53

$2.24 $2.24

-31.70%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.33 $2.33

$3.13 $3.13

-25.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.51 $12.51

$13.82 $13.82

-9.48%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.24 $14.24

$14.88 $14.88

-4.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.89 $2.89

$2.54 $2.54

13.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.22 $4.22

$3.51 $3.51

20.23%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$5.19 $5.19

$2.43 $2.43

113.58%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.95 $21.95

$73.5 $73.5

-70.15%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.59 $2.59

$3.18 $3.18

-18.55%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.67 $1.67

$1.39 $1.39

20.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.26 $30.26

$25.03 $25.03

20.89%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.30 $1.30

$1.20 $1.20

8.33%

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

$36.6K $36.6K

$35.0K $35.0K

4.56%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$26.7K $26.7K

-1.76%

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

$167 $167

$194 $194

-13.91%

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

$52.0 $52.0

$69.5 $69.5

-25.13%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.8 $75.8

$61.6 $61.6

22.99%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$50.2 $50.2

$47.90 $47.90

4.86%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.34 $27.34

Cinema Ticket

$16.98 $16.98

$17.81 $17.81

-4.66%

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

$2,161 $2,161

$1,794 $1,794

20.49%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.9K $30.9K

$31.9K $31.9K

-3.30%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 $55.1

$67.0 $67.0

-17.82%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.96 $26.96

$52.1 $52.1

-48.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$102 $102

-6.26%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$165 $165

$144 $144

15.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,760 $1,760

$2,526 $2,526

-30.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,203 $1,203

$1,578 $1,578

-23.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,958 $2,958

$4,738 $4,738

-37.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,982 $1,982

$2,693 $2,693

-26.41%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,625 $2,625

$4,190 $4,190

-37.35%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,417 $2,417

$2,768 $2,768

-12.68%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$7,130 $7,130

$4,931 $4,931

44.60%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.67

6.81

-16.74%

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

Last update for Anacortes, WA: October 25, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Anacortes, WA

$1.2K 47.6%

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52% 31.2% $375

Groceries & Markets

Anacortes, WA

$437 17.3%

Chicago, IL

$447 14.7% 2.4% $11

Eating Out

Anacortes, WA

$301 11.9%

Chicago, IL

$345 11.4% 14.8% $44

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Anacortes, WA

$295 11.7%

Chicago, IL

$326 10.7% 10.3% $30

Clothing & Footwear

Anacortes, WA

$154 6.1%

Chicago, IL

$164 5.4% 6.4% $9.8

Sport & Entertainment

Anacortes, WA

$84 3.3%

Chicago, IL

$84 2.8% 0.8% $0.7

Getting Around

Anacortes, WA

$54 2.1%

Chicago, IL

$93 3.1% 74.2% $40

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,760 in Anacortes, WA and $2,526 in Chicago, IL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Anacortes, WA pays 45% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $85 in Anacortes, WA vs $89 in Chicago, IL for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $437 vs $447 per month, with Anacortes, WA cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Anacortes, WA

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🕒 Local time

12:03 12:03 PM

14:03 2:03 PM

2 h ahead of Anacortes, WA

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

17,637

2,746,388

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.898 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Anacortes, WA Chicago, IL 2,810 km ≈ 4 h nonstop flight

From you

Anacortes, WA
Chicago, IL

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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

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

Anacortes, WA wins on cost – living expenses run 17% lower than in Chicago, IL. Housing and daily spending are where you’ll feel the difference most, making Anacortes, WA the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 45% higher in Anacortes, WA, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,760 in Anacortes, WA versus $2,526 in Chicago, IL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $2,161 in Anacortes, WA versus $1,794 in Chicago, IL. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Anacortes, WA – a meal for two runs $85 versus $89 in Chicago, IL. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

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

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.