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

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Bellevue, WA is 1.9% more expensive than Chicago, IL without rent, and 21.2% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Bellevue, WA is 11.7% more expensive than Chicago, IL without rent, and 14.1% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Bellevue, WA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.78 $22.78
$20.82 $20.82
9.41%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$119 $119
$100 $100
18.46%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.1 $13.1
$11.97 $11.97
9.44%
Cappuccino
$5.58 $5.58
$5.56 $5.56
0.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.94 $2.94
$3.11 $3.11
-5.47%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38 $2.38
$2.42 $2.42
-1.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.71 $7.71
$6.86 $6.86
12.39%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.79 $7.79
$8.45 $8.45
-7.81%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Bellevue, WA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$1.04 $1.04
3.85%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$4.15 $4.15
-
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.84 $2.84
$5.52 $5.52
-48.55%
Eggs
$6.41 $6.41
$4.65 $4.65
37.85%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.76 $14.76
$14.33 $14.33
3.00%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.55 $15.55
$14.88 $14.88
4.50%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.31 $15.31
$19.34 $19.34
-20.84%
Apples (1kg)
$5.79 $5.79
$5.17 $5.17
11.99%
Banana (1kg)
$2.3 $2.3
$1.71 $1.71
34.50%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.72 $4.72
$4.41 $4.41
7.03%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.61 $3.61
$4.51 $4.51
-19.96%
Potato (1kg)
$2.41 $2.41
$2.53 $2.53
-4.74%
Onion (1kg)
$3.84 $3.84
$2.74 $2.74
40.15%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.47 $2.47
$2.43 $2.43
1.65%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.58 $2.58
$2.7 $2.7
-4.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.09 $13.09
$15.19 $15.19
-13.82%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.63 $17.63
$16.42 $16.42
7.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.15 $2.15
$2.35 $2.35
-8.51%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.24 $4.24
$3.7 $3.7
14.59%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Bellevue, WA
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.8 $2.8
$2.53 $2.53
10.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$106 $106
$74.1 $74.1
43.53%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.62 $2.62
$3.34 $3.34
-21.56%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.7 $1.7
$1.42 $1.42
19.72%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.66 $29.66
$25.42 $25.42
16.68%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.18 $1.18
$1.08 $1.08
9.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.1K $33.1K
$32.4K $32.4K
2.03%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.8K $25.8K
$26.2K $26.2K
-1.66%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bellevue, WA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$177 $177
$188 $188
-5.93%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$53.1 $53.1
$63.7 $63.7
-16.67%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$74.1 $74.1
$65.2 $65.2
13.65%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Bellevue, WA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$80.1 $80.1
$76.7 $76.7
4.39%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$41.02 $41.02
$13.03 $13.03
214.81%
Cinema Ticket
$18.23 $18.23
$14.93 $14.93
22.10%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Bellevue, WA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,133 $2,133
$2,063 $2,063
3.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$29.1K $29.1K
$39.2K $39.2K
-25.77%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Bellevue, WA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59 $59
$64.3 $64.3
-8.23%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.16 $37.16
$52.4 $52.4
-29.07%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.6 $96.6
$95.2 $95.2
1.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113 $113
$145 $145
-21.65%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Bellevue, WA
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,869 $2,869
$2,378 $2,378
20.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,080 $2,080
$1,584 $1,584
31.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,561 $4,561
$4,763 $4,763
-4.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,710 $3,710
$2,815 $2,815
31.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,502 $7,502
$3,588 $3,588
109.10%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,653 $5,653
$2,490 $2,490
127.00%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Bellevue, WA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$9,134 $9,134
$5,275 $5,275
73.16%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.61
6.6
0.15%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Bellevue, WA: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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