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: $2,895 in Astoria, NY versus $3,077 in Chicago, IL.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,904 in Astoria, NY versus $4,628 in Chicago, IL.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,912 in Astoria, NY versus $6,179 in Chicago, IL.

Living in Astoria, NY costs roughly 6% less than in Chicago, IL, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Astoria, NY 116% above, Chicago, IL 130% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.75 $16.75

$20.91 $20.91

-19.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$59.2 $59.2

$98.1 $98.1

-39.72%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.06 $7.06

$11.86 $11.86

-40.47%

Cappuccino

$3.36 $3.36

$5.60 $5.60

-40.00%

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

$1.79 $1.79

$3.07 $3.07

-41.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.54 $1.54

$2.47 $2.47

-37.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.93 $4.93

$7.14 $7.14

-30.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.71 $7.71

$8.08 $8.08

-4.58%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.11 $1.11

$1.05 $1.05

5.71%

White Bread (500g)

$3.60 $3.60

$4.11 $4.11

-12.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.33 $2.33

$5.61 $5.61

-58.47%

Eggs

$2.95 $2.95

$4.51 $4.51

-34.59%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.91 $10.91

$14.27 $14.27

-23.55%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.89 $7.89

$14.89 $14.89

-47.01%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.01 $10.01

$19.19 $19.19

-47.84%

Apples (1kg)

$2.72 $2.72

$5.14 $5.14

-47.08%

Banana (1kg)

$1.81 $1.81

$1.77 $1.77

2.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.99 $2.99

$4.39 $4.39

-31.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.05 $3.05

$4.56 $4.56

-33.11%

Potato (1kg)

$1.68 $1.68

$2.54 $2.54

-33.86%

Onion (1kg)

$1.95 $1.95

$2.75 $2.75

-29.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.54 $1.54

$2.42 $2.42

-36.36%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.46 $1.46

$2.62 $2.62

-44.27%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.72 $14.72

$14.92 $14.92

-1.34%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.71 $19.71

$14.80 $14.80

33.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 $1.68

$2.46 $2.46

-31.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.52 $3.52

$3.73 $3.73

-5.63%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.92 $2.92

$2.48 $2.48

17.74%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$132 $132

$75.4 $75.4

75.38%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.93 $2.93

$3.18 $3.18

-7.86%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.22 $2.22

$1.42 $1.42

56.34%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.29 $42.29

$24.94 $24.94

69.57%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.91 $0.91

$1.06 $1.06

-14.15%

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

$25.1K $25.1K

$31.9K $31.9K

-21.40%

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

$24.0K $24.0K

$26.0K $26.0K

-7.88%

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

$101 $101

$185 $185

-45.65%

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

$36.32 $36.32

$61.7 $61.7

-41.17%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.88 $29.88

$66.9 $66.9

-55.35%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$70.3 $70.3

$75.2 $75.2

-6.47%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.08 $13.08

Cinema Ticket

$17.45 $17.45

$14.71 $14.71

18.63%

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

$1,907 $1,907

$2,020 $2,020

-5.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.3K $14.3K

$39.4K $39.4K

-63.66%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$25.19 $25.19

$64.6 $64.6

-61.01%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.36 $20.36

$52.5 $52.5

-61.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$29.54 $29.54

$97.8 $97.8

-69.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$50.3 $50.3

$148 $148

-65.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,240 $2,240

$2,313 $2,313

-3.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,830 $1,830

$1,590 $1,590

15.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,741 $3,741

$4,608 $4,608

-18.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,549 $2,549

$2,779 $2,779

-8.25%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,922 $3,922

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,613 $2,613

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,217 $5,217

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.51

6.6

-1.36%

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

Last update for Astoria, NY: May 30, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,240 in Astoria, NY and $2,313 in Chicago, IL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $59.0 in Astoria, NY vs $98.0 in Chicago, IL for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $310 vs $447 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 6% in total monthly costs ($2,895 vs $3,077 including rent). Astoria, NY is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $4,343 in Astoria, NY and $4,616 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: $2,240 in Astoria, NY versus $2,313 in Chicago, IL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,895 per month in Astoria, NY versus $3,077 in Chicago, IL – a 6% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Astoria, NY runs roughly 75% less than in Chicago, IL. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Astoria, NY 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 Astoria, NY gentler on the wallet – expenses run 6% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.