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

🙂 Solo nomad: Bellingham, WA is 2.4% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 5.2% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Bellingham, WA is 5.8% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 10.5% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.3 $20.3

$20.82 $20.82

-2.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$85.9 $85.9

$100 $100

-14.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13 $13

$11.97 $11.97

8.60%

Cappuccino

$5.25 $5.25

$5.56 $5.56

-5.58%

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

$2.54 $2.54

$3.11 $3.11

-18.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.1 $2.1

$2.42 $2.42

-13.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.92 $6.92

$6.86 $6.86

0.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.97 $5.97

$8.45 $8.45

-29.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

White Bread (500g)

$3.66 $3.66

$4.15 $4.15

-11.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.36 $4.36

$5.52 $5.52

-21.01%

Eggs

$4.25 $4.25

$4.65 $4.65

-8.60%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.51 $17.51

$14.33 $14.33

22.19%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.76 $15.76

$14.88 $14.88

5.91%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.1 $15.1

$19.34 $19.34

-21.92%

Apples (1kg)

$5.71 $5.71

$5.17 $5.17

10.44%

Banana (1kg)

$1.63 $1.63

$1.71 $1.71

-4.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.34 $4.34

$4.41 $4.41

-1.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.1 $5.1

$4.51 $4.51

13.08%

Potato (1kg)

$3.06 $3.06

$2.53 $2.53

20.95%

Onion (1kg)

$2.18 $2.18

$2.74 $2.74

-20.44%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.2 $2.2

$2.43 $2.43

-9.47%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.7 $2.7

-8.52%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.35 $12.35

$15.19 $15.19

-18.70%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.71 $17.71

$16.42 $16.42

7.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 $1.76

$2.35 $2.35

-25.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.68 $4.68

$3.7 $3.7

26.49%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.03 $1.03

$2.53 $2.53

-59.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.86 $29.86

$74.1 $74.1

-59.72%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$10.05 $10.05

$3.34 $3.34

200.90%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.7 $1.7

$1.42 $1.42

19.72%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$52.8 $52.8

$25.42 $25.42

107.55%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 $1.11

$1.08 $1.08

2.78%

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

$34.6K $34.6K

$32.4K $32.4K

6.74%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$26.2K $26.2K

-0.49%

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

$179 $179

$188 $188

-4.99%

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

$53.9 $53.9

$63.7 $63.7

-15.42%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.1 $75.1

$65.2 $65.2

15.20%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$69.7 $69.7

$76.7 $76.7

-9.12%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$17.95 $17.95

$14.93 $14.93

20.23%

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

$1,465 $1,465

$2,063 $2,063

-28.96%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.9K $23.9K

$39.2K $39.2K

-39.07%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.7 $51.7

$64.3 $64.3

-19.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.75 $28.75

$52.4 $52.4

-45.12%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.2 $98.2

$95.2 $95.2

3.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$148 $148

$145 $145

2.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,712 $1,712

$2,378 $2,378

-28.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,447 $1,447

$1,584 $1,584

-8.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,766 $2,766

$4,763 $4,763

-41.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,510 $2,510

$2,815 $2,815

-10.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,013 $4,013

$3,588 $3,588

11.83%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,109 $4,109

$2,490 $2,490

65.01%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,264 $4,264

$5,275 $5,275

-19.16%

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 Bellingham, WA: October 27, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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