Cost of Living Comparison Between Baltimore, MD and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Baltimore, MD and Chicago, IL

🙂 Solo nomad: Baltimore, MD is 5% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 11.3% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Baltimore, MD is 8.6% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 13% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Baltimore, MD
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.25 $20.25
$20.82 $20.82
-2.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$78.8 $78.8
$100 $100
-21.51%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.08 $10.08
$11.97 $11.97
-15.79%
Cappuccino
$5.02 $5.02
$5.56 $5.56
-9.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.36 $2.36
$3.11 $3.11
-24.12%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17 $2.17
$2.42 $2.42
-10.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.99 $5.99
$6.86 $6.86
-12.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.63 $7.63
$8.45 $8.45
-9.70%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Baltimore, MD
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.02 $1.02
$1.04 $1.04
-1.92%
White Bread (500g)
$3.86 $3.86
$4.15 $4.15
-6.99%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.58 $4.58
$5.52 $5.52
-17.03%
Eggs
$4.33 $4.33
$4.65 $4.65
-6.88%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.21 $13.21
$14.33 $14.33
-7.82%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.93 $9.93
$14.88 $14.88
-33.27%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.01 $16.01
$19.34 $19.34
-17.22%
Apples (1kg)
$6.9 $6.9
$5.17 $5.17
33.46%
Banana (1kg)
$1.58 $1.58
$1.71 $1.71
-7.60%
Oranges (1kg)
$6.86 $6.86
$4.41 $4.41
55.56%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.36 $5.36
$4.51 $4.51
18.85%
Potato (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$2.53 $2.53
8.30%
Onion (1kg)
$2.91 $2.91
$2.74 $2.74
6.20%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.51 $2.51
$2.43 $2.43
3.29%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.72 $2.72
$2.7 $2.7
0.74%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$12.41 $12.41
$15.19 $15.19
-18.30%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.73 $14.73
$16.42 $16.42
-10.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.34 $2.34
$2.35 $2.35
-0.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.91 $3.91
$3.7 $3.7
5.68%
🚌 Getting Around
Baltimore, MD
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.46 $2.46
$2.53 $2.53
-2.77%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$78 $78
$74.1 $74.1
5.21%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.77 $1.77
$3.34 $3.34
-47.01%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.4 $1.4
$1.42 $1.42
-1.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$24.12 $24.12
$25.42 $25.42
-5.11%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.85 $0.85
$1.08 $1.08
-21.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.6K $25.6K
$32.4K $32.4K
-21.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.9K $25.9K
$26.2K $26.2K
-1.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Baltimore, MD
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$174 $174
$188 $188
-7.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$56.4 $56.4
$63.7 $63.7
-11.52%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$80.6 $80.6
$65.2 $65.2
23.65%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Baltimore, MD
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$56.8 $56.8
$76.7 $76.7
-25.96%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$30.49 $30.49
$13.03 $13.03
134.00%
Cinema Ticket
$15.06 $15.06
$14.93 $14.93
0.87%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Baltimore, MD
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,262 $1,262
$2,063 $2,063
-38.82%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$33.4K $33.4K
$39.2K $39.2K
-14.63%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Baltimore, MD
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.9 $51.9
$64.3 $64.3
-19.36%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$73.5 $73.5
$52.4 $52.4
40.26%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.2 $85.2
$95.2 $95.2
-10.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111 $111
$145 $145
-23.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Baltimore, MD
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,877 $1,877
$2,378 $2,378
-21.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,350 $1,350
$1,584 $1,584
-14.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,340 $3,340
$4,763 $4,763
-29.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,250 $2,250
$2,815 $2,815
-20.08%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,258 $2,258
$3,588 $3,588
-37.06%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,993 $1,993
$2,490 $2,490
-19.98%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Baltimore, MD
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,966 $3,966
$5,275 $5,275
-24.82%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.59
6.6
-0.15%

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

Last update for Baltimore, MD: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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