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: $3,632 in Bellevue, WA versus $3,068 in Chicago, IL.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,417 in Bellevue, WA versus $4,648 in Chicago, IL.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,202 in Bellevue, WA versus $6,229 in Chicago, IL.

Living in Bellevue, WA is roughly 18% more expensive than in Chicago, IL, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Bellevue, WA 172% above, Chicago, IL 130% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$22.07 $22.07

$20.17 $20.17

9.42%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$116 $116

$99.5 $99.5

16.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.26 $13.26

$12.23 $12.23

8.42%

Cappuccino

$5.63 $5.63

$5.60 $5.60

0.54%

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

$2.90 $2.90

$3.12 $3.12

-7.05%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.37 $2.37

$2.43 $2.43

-2.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.66 $7.66

$6.93 $6.93

10.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.89 $7.89

$8.20 $8.20

-3.78%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.11 $1.11

$1.08 $1.08

2.78%

White Bread (500g)

$4.21 $4.21

$3.97 $3.97

6.05%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.84 $2.84

$5.58 $5.58

-49.10%

Eggs

$6.43 $6.43

$4.47 $4.47

43.85%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.83 $14.83

$14.50 $14.50

2.28%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.01 $16.01

$15.08 $15.08

6.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.12 $15.12

$19.34 $19.34

-21.82%

Apples (1kg)

$5.68 $5.68

$5.37 $5.37

5.77%

Banana (1kg)

$2.24 $2.24

$1.76 $1.76

27.27%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.64 $4.64

$4.32 $4.32

7.41%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.69 $3.69

$4.41 $4.41

-16.33%

Potato (1kg)

$2.37 $2.37

$2.54 $2.54

-6.69%

Onion (1kg)

$3.84 $3.84

$2.70 $2.70

42.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.44 $2.44

$2.49 $2.49

-2.01%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.56 $2.56

$2.60 $2.60

-1.54%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.98 $12.98

$14.80 $14.80

-12.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.14 $18.14

$15.18 $15.18

19.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.07 $2.07

$2.47 $2.47

-16.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.31 $4.31

$3.60 $3.60

19.72%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.78 $2.78

$2.54 $2.54

9.45%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$105 $105

$76.3 $76.3

37.30%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.73 $2.73

$3.30 $3.30

-17.27%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.66 $1.66

$1.38 $1.38

20.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.57 $30.57

$25.36 $25.36

20.54%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 $1.20

$1.09 $1.09

10.09%

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

$33.0K $33.0K

$31.6K $31.6K

4.41%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$26.6K $26.6K

-2.42%

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

$178 $178

$186 $186

-4.30%

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

$53.0 $53.0

$62.9 $62.9

-15.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$72.7 $72.7

$66.2 $66.2

9.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.9 $78.9

$77.6 $77.6

1.58%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$41.11 $41.11

$13.16 $13.16

212.39%

Cinema Ticket

$18.30 $18.30

$14.74 $14.74

24.15%

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

$2,171 $2,171

$2,039 $2,039

6.46%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$28.8K $28.8K

$39.9K $39.9K

-27.75%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.5 $59.5

$63.9 $63.9

-6.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.89 $36.89

$51.2 $51.2

-27.91%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.5 $98.5

$95.2 $95.2

3.45%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 $113

$144 $144

-21.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,857 $2,857

$2,305 $2,305

23.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,130 $2,130

$1,575 $1,575

35.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,594 $4,594

$4,688 $4,688

-2.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,602 $3,602

$2,737 $2,737

31.61%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,614 $4,614

$4,063 $4,063

13.56%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,693 $4,693

$2,696 $2,696

74.09%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$8,803 $8,803

$5,019 $5,019

75.40%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.61

6.6

0.15%

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

Last update for Bellevue, WA: July 12, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,857 in Bellevue, WA and $2,305 in Chicago, IL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bellevue, WA pays 75% 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: $116 in Bellevue, WA vs $99.0 in Chicago, IL for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $450 vs $448 per month, with Chicago, IL 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

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

Chicago, IL is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 18% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 75% 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: $2,857 in Bellevue, WA versus $2,305 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 $99.0 versus $116 in Bellevue, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $3,632 per month in Bellevue, WA versus $3,068 in Chicago, IL – a 18% 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 18% less than in Bellevue, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.