Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living costs are similar in Astoria, NY and in Chicago, IL: $3,298 and $3,185 a month, rent and utilities included.

162

Cost of Living Index in Astoria, NY
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Astoria, NY Living Index
153

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
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Chicago, IL Living Index

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Astoria, NY

🇺🇸 United States

$3,298

/mo nomad

Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,185

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Astoria, NY 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 Astoria, NY and in Chicago, IL actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,298 in Astoria, NY versus $3,185 in Chicago, IL.

Astoria, NY $3,298
Chicago, IL $3,185

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,650 in Astoria, NY versus $4,631 in Chicago, IL.

Astoria, NY $4,650
Chicago, IL $4,631

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,002 in Astoria, NY versus $6,077 in Chicago, IL.

Astoria, NY $6,002
Chicago, IL $6,077

Living in Astoria, NY is roughly 4% more expensive than in Chicago, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Astoria, NY 144% above, Chicago, IL 136% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.30 $19.30

$21.58 $21.58

-10.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.7 $80.7

$88.7 $88.7

-8.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.12 $10.12

$13.20 $13.20

-23.33%

Cappuccino

$4.56 $4.56

$5.59 $5.59

-18.43%

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

$1.69 $1.69

$2.63 $2.63

-35.74%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.88 $1.88

$2.26 $2.26

-16.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.09 $5.09

$7.11 $7.11

-28.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.03 $8.03

$9.23 $9.23

-13.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.13 $1.13

$1.28 $1.28

-11.72%

White Bread (500g)

$3.82 $3.82

$3.84 $3.84

-0.52%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.67 $3.67

$5.07 $5.07

-27.61%

Eggs

$3.52 $3.52

$4.84 $4.84

-27.27%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.75 $16.75

$14.17 $14.17

18.21%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.07 $9.07

$14.61 $14.61

-37.92%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.37 $13.37

$18.76 $18.76

-28.73%

Apples (1kg)

$4.10 $4.10

$5.19 $5.19

-21.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.88 $1.88

$2.00 $2.00

-6.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.59 $2.59

$4.00 $4.00

-35.25%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.97 $3.97

$4.98 $4.98

-20.28%

Potato (1kg)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.79 $2.79

-11.47%

Onion (1kg)

$2.44 $2.44

$2.65 $2.65

-7.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 $2.04

$2.13 $2.13

-4.23%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.49 $2.49

$3.09 $3.09

-19.42%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.17 $15.17

$16.05 $16.05

-5.48%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.30 $20.30

$15.20 $15.20

33.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 $1.71

$2.62 $2.62

-34.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.41 $3.41

$3.46 $3.46

-1.45%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.07 $3.07

$2.47 $2.47

24.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$139 $139

$75.1 $75.1

85.61%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.94 $2.94

$3.21 $3.21

-8.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.13 $2.13

$1.39 $1.39

53.24%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.52 $41.52

$25.02 $25.02

65.95%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.93 $0.93

$1.24 $1.24

-25.00%

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

$35.2K $35.2K

$37.2K $37.2K

-5.46%

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

$25.2K $25.2K

$25.8K $25.8K

-2.28%

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

$113 $113

$192 $192

-41.09%

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

$57.4 $57.4

$67.8 $67.8

-15.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$50.7 $50.7

$60.9 $60.9

-16.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.62 $45.62

$53.6 $53.6

-14.84%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.90 $27.90

Cinema Ticket

$20.18 $20.18

$17.80 $17.80

13.37%

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

$2,578 $2,578

$1,554 $1,554

65.84%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$34.8K $34.8K

$31.4K $31.4K

10.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$25.10 $25.10

$67.9 $67.9

-63.02%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.11 $20.11

$50.8 $50.8

-60.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$29.80 $29.80

$101 $101

-70.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$50.9 $50.9

$143 $143

-64.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,347 $2,347

$2,383 $2,383

-1.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,091 $2,091

$1,712 $1,712

22.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,812 $3,812

$4,674 $4,674

-18.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,225 $3,225

$2,738 $2,738

17.76%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,158 $4,158

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,691 $2,691

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,894 $4,894

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.77

-4.73%

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

Last update for Astoria, NY: October 10, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Astoria, NY

$2.1K 63.4%

Chicago, IL

$1.7K 53.8% 18.1% $379

Groceries & Markets

Astoria, NY

$382 11.6%

Chicago, IL

$451 14.2% 18% $69

Eating Out

Astoria, NY

$295 9%

Chicago, IL

$353 11.1% 19.6% $58

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Astoria, NY

$221 6.7%

Chicago, IL

$321 10.1% 45% $100

Getting Around

Astoria, NY

$165 5%

Chicago, IL

$95 3% 42.5% $70

Sport & Entertainment

Astoria, NY

$86 2.6%

Chicago, IL

$89 2.8% 3.7% $3.2

Clothing & Footwear

Astoria, NY

$57 1.7%

Chicago, IL

$164 5.1% 189% $107

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,347 in Astoria, NY and $2,383 in Chicago, IL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $81.0 in Astoria, NY vs $89.0 in Chicago, IL for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $382 vs $451 per month, with Astoria, NY cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Astoria, NY

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🕒 Local time

08:35 8:35 AM

07:35 7:35 AM

1 h behind Astoria, NY

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

150,165

2,746,388

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

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Between locations

Astoria, NY Chicago, IL 1,150 km ≈ 2 h nonstop flight

From you

Astoria, NY
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

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

Astoria, NY and Chicago, IL differ by about 4% in total monthly costs ($3,298 vs $3,185 including rent). Chicago, IL is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $4,947 in Astoria, NY and $4,777 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: $2,347 in Astoria, NY versus $2,383 in Chicago, IL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $3,298 per month in Astoria, NY versus $3,185 in Chicago, IL – a 4% 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 4% less than in Astoria, NY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.