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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,694 in Bellevue, WA versus $3,117 in Chicago, IL.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,595 in Bellevue, WA versus $4,695 in Chicago, IL.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,496 in Bellevue, WA versus $6,273 in Chicago, IL.

Living in Bellevue, WA is roughly 19% more expensive than in Chicago, IL, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Bellevue, WA 170% above, Chicago, IL 128% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.25 $25.25

$19.92 $19.92

26.76%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$88.5 $88.5

13.19%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.83 $12.83

$12.94 $12.94

-0.85%

Cappuccino

$6.05 $6.05

$5.54 $5.54

9.21%

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

$3.06 $3.06

$2.74 $2.74

11.68%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 $2.48

$2.36 $2.36

5.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.05 $8.05

$7.12 $7.12

13.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.14 $8.14

$8.73 $8.73

-6.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.12 $1.12

$1.34 $1.34

-16.42%

White Bread (500g)

$4.79 $4.79

$4.17 $4.17

14.87%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.23 $3.23

$5.73 $5.73

-43.63%

Eggs

$5.14 $5.14

$4.89 $4.89

5.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$18.29 $18.29

$14.77 $14.77

23.83%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.75 $13.75

$14.85 $14.85

-7.41%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.52 $16.52

$19.61 $19.61

-15.76%

Apples (1kg)

$5.53 $5.53

$5.57 $5.57

-0.72%

Banana (1kg)

$1.95 $1.95

$1.92 $1.92

1.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.23 $5.23

$4.17 $4.17

25.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.60 $4.60

$4.86 $4.86

-5.35%

Potato (1kg)

$2.64 $2.64

$2.84 $2.84

-7.04%

Onion (1kg)

$3.23 $3.23

$2.80 $2.80

15.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.35 $2.35

$2.20 $2.20

6.82%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.28 $2.28

$3.06 $3.06

-25.49%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.40 $12.40

$16.16 $16.16

-23.27%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.25 $15.25

$14.82 $14.82

2.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$2.53 $2.53

-2.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.44 $3.44

$3.35 $3.35

2.69%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.73 $2.73

$2.55 $2.55

7.06%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$106 $106

$75.6 $75.6

39.99%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.61 $2.61

$3.30 $3.30

-20.91%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.36 $1.36

21.32%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.05 $30.05

$25.12 $25.12

19.63%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 $1.41

$1.17 $1.17

20.51%

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

$35.7K $35.7K

$36.0K $36.0K

-0.75%

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

$25.6K $25.6K

$26.2K $26.2K

-2.39%

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

$155 $155

$191 $191

-18.87%

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

$53.4 $53.4

$67.9 $67.9

-21.45%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$88.3 $88.3

$61.7 $61.7

43.09%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$131 $131

$63.5 $63.5

106.95%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$38.71 $38.71

$27.14 $27.14

42.63%

Cinema Ticket

$18.17 $18.17

$18.02 $18.02

0.83%

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

$1,967 $1,967

$1,522 $1,522

29.22%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.9K $30.9K

$31.3K $31.3K

-1.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.8 $60.8

$63.7 $63.7

-4.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.8 $53.8

$55.3 $55.3

-2.59%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100 $100

-0.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 $113

$153 $153

-26.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,742 $2,742

$2,406 $2,406

13.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,070 $2,070

$1,653 $1,653

25.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,193 $5,193

$4,577 $4,577

13.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,801 $3,801

$2,771 $2,771

37.14%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,714 $4,714

$4,031 $4,031

16.93%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,669 $4,669

$2,745 $2,745

70.09%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$8,956 $8,956

$4,804 $4,804

86.42%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.27

6.38

-1.72%

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

Last update for Bellevue, WA: September 15, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,742 in Bellevue, WA and $2,406 in Chicago, IL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bellevue, WA pays 86% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $100 in Bellevue, WA vs $88.0 in Chicago, IL. Groceries flip the comparison at $450 vs $464, with Bellevue, WA cheaper for home cooking.

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

Bellevue, WA vs Chicago, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chicago, IL is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 19% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 86% higher in Bellevue, WA, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,742 in Bellevue, WA versus $2,406 in Chicago, IL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Chicago, IL – a meal for two runs $88.0 versus $100 in Bellevue, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $3,694 per month in Bellevue, WA versus $3,117 in Chicago, IL – a 19% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

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.

For families, Chicago, IL is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Bellevue, WA, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Bellevue, WA 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 19% less than in Bellevue, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.