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

🙂 Solo nomad: Arlington, WA is 30.5% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 21.3% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Arlington, WA is 27.2% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 24.5% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.48 $16.48

$20.82 $20.82

-20.85%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$71.4 $71.4

$100 $100

-28.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.71 $12.71

$11.97 $11.97

6.18%

Cappuccino

$5.22 $5.22

$5.56 $5.56

-6.12%

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

$2.9 $2.9

$3.11 $3.11

-6.75%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 $1.98

$2.42 $2.42

-18.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.09 $5.09

$6.86 $6.86

-25.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.76 $11.76

$8.45 $8.45

39.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.1 $1.1

$1.04 $1.04

5.77%

White Bread (500g)

$4.16 $4.16

$4.15 $4.15

0.24%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.88 $4.88

$5.52 $5.52

-11.59%

Eggs

$4.77 $4.77

$4.65 $4.65

2.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.72 $9.72

$14.33 $14.33

-32.17%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.25 $8.25

$14.88 $14.88

-44.56%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.38 $15.38

$19.34 $19.34

-20.48%

Apples (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$5.17 $5.17

-45.45%

Banana (1kg)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.71 $1.71

0.58%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.07 $5.07

$4.41 $4.41

14.97%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.01 $5.01

$4.51 $4.51

11.09%

Potato (1kg)

$3.34 $3.34

$2.53 $2.53

32.02%

Onion (1kg)

$2.78 $2.78

$2.74 $2.74

1.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.94 $1.94

$2.43 $2.43

-20.16%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.89 $2.89

$2.7 $2.7

7.04%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.78 $10.78

$15.19 $15.19

-29.03%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.13 $16.13

$16.42 $16.42

-1.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 $1.76

$2.35 $2.35

-25.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.51 $6.51

$3.7 $3.7

75.95%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.03 $2.03

$2.53 $2.53

-19.76%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.62 $2.62

$3.34 $3.34

-21.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.72 $0.72

$1.42 $1.42

-49.30%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.55 $29.55

$25.42 $25.42

16.25%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.06 $1.06

$1.08 $1.08

-1.85%

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

$36.8K $36.8K

$32.4K $32.4K

13.47%

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

$24.4K $24.4K

$26.2K $26.2K

-6.89%

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

$214 $214

$188 $188

13.82%

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

$50.9 $50.9

$63.7 $63.7

-20.05%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$45.19 $45.19

$65.2 $65.2

-30.69%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.97 $32.97

$76.7 $76.7

-57.03%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$14.97 $14.97

$14.93 $14.93

0.27%

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

$2,056 $2,056

$2,063 $2,063

-0.31%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.1K $31.1K

$39.2K $39.2K

-20.60%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$38.08 $38.08

$64.3 $64.3

-40.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.75 $39.75

$52.4 $52.4

-24.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.4 $73.4

$95.2 $95.2

-22.87%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$99.5 $99.5

$145 $145

-31.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,293 $1,293

$2,378 $2,378

-45.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,206 $1,206

$1,584 $1,584

-23.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,529 $2,529

$4,763 $4,763

-46.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,987 $1,987

$2,815 $2,815

-29.40%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,728 $2,728

$3,588 $3,588

-23.97%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,596 $2,596

$2,490 $2,490

4.24%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,786 $5,786

$5,275 $5,275

9.69%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.85

6.6

-26.52%

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

Last update for Arlington, WA: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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