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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,316 in Astoria, NY versus $3,106 in Chicago, IL.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,664 in Astoria, NY versus $4,599 in Chicago, IL.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,012 in Astoria, NY versus $6,092 in Chicago, IL.

Living in Astoria, NY is roughly 7% more expensive than in Chicago, IL, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Astoria, NY 141% above, Chicago, IL 126% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.79 $18.79

$19.86 $19.86

-5.39%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$79.5 $79.5

$88.3 $88.3

-10.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.82 $9.82

$13.23 $13.23

-25.77%

Cappuccino

$4.48 $4.48

$5.86 $5.86

-23.55%

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

$1.72 $1.72

$2.61 $2.61

-34.10%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.80 $1.80

$2.32 $2.32

-22.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.86 $4.86

$7.03 $7.03

-30.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.91 $7.91

$9.25 $9.25

-14.49%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.19 $1.19

$1.34 $1.34

-11.19%

White Bread (500g)

$3.88 $3.88

$4.19 $4.19

-7.40%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.68 $3.68

$5.50 $5.50

-33.09%

Eggs

$3.48 $3.48

$4.71 $4.71

-26.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.73 $16.73

$14.72 $14.72

13.65%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.91 $8.91

$14.53 $14.53

-38.68%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.49 $13.49

$19.69 $19.69

-31.49%

Apples (1kg)

$4.07 $4.07

$5.64 $5.64

-27.84%

Banana (1kg)

$1.85 $1.85

$1.97 $1.97

-6.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.50 $2.50

$4.04 $4.04

-38.12%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.98 $3.98

$5.07 $5.07

-21.50%

Potato (1kg)

$2.37 $2.37

$2.94 $2.94

-19.39%

Onion (1kg)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.92 $2.92

-17.12%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 $2.04

$2.28 $2.28

-10.53%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.44 $2.44

$3.12 $3.12

-21.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.93 $14.93

$16.19 $16.19

-7.78%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.08 $20.08

$15.17 $15.17

32.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.75 $1.75

$2.67 $2.67

-34.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.40 $3.40

$3.48 $3.48

-2.30%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.02 $3.02

$2.54 $2.54

18.90%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$141 $141

$76.0 $76.0

85.60%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.02 $3.02

$3.16 $3.16

-4.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.14 $2.14

$1.37 $1.37

56.20%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.15 $42.15

$22.66 $22.66

86.01%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.86 $0.86

$1.20 $1.20

-28.33%

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

$34.9K $34.9K

$37.0K $37.0K

-5.72%

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

$25.2K $25.2K

$26.0K $26.0K

-3.16%

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

$114 $114

$190 $190

-39.74%

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

$55.9 $55.9

$68.5 $68.5

-18.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$49.79 $49.79

$61.1 $61.1

-18.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.83 $45.83

$63.8 $63.8

-28.14%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.80 $27.80

Cinema Ticket

$20.08 $20.08

$18.28 $18.28

9.85%

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

$2,505 $2,505

$1,525 $1,525

64.33%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$34.9K $34.9K

$32.0K $32.0K

9.14%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.67 $24.67

$64.0 $64.0

-61.47%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.30 $20.30

$54.4 $54.4

-62.68%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$30.28 $30.28

$101 $101

-69.90%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$49.99 $49.99

$153 $153

-67.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,377 $2,377

$2,421 $2,421

-1.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,173 $2,173

$1,690 $1,690

28.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,695 $3,695

$4,584 $4,584

-19.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,219 $3,219

$2,782 $2,782

15.71%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,170 $4,170

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,739 $2,739

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,777 $4,777

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.32

6.38

-0.94%

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

Last update for Astoria, NY: August 30, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,377 in Astoria, NY and $2,421 in Chicago, IL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $79.0 in Astoria, NY vs $88.0 in Chicago, IL for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $381 vs $465 per month, with Astoria, NY cheaper across the board.

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

Astoria, NY vs Chicago, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Astoria, NY and Chicago, IL differ by about 7% in total monthly costs ($3,316 vs $3,106 including rent). Chicago, IL is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $4,974 in Astoria, NY and $4,659 in Chicago, IL to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,377 in Astoria, NY versus $2,421 in Chicago, IL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $3,316 per month in Astoria, NY versus $3,106 in Chicago, IL – a 7% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Chicago, IL runs roughly 86% less than in Astoria, NY. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Chicago, IL 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.

Safety-wise, Astoria, NY and Chicago, IL are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Chicago, IL gentler on the wallet – expenses run 7% less than in Astoria, NY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.