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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,819 per month in Bellingham, WA vs $3,111 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,228 per month in Bellingham, WA vs $4,680 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,637 per month in Bellingham, WA vs $6,249 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Bellingham, WA is about 9% cheaper than Chicago, IL, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Bellingham, WA and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – Bellingham, WA by 110%, Chicago, IL by 131%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.84 $19.84

$20.39 $20.39

-2.70%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$85.1 $85.1

$98.2 $98.2

-13.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.46 $13.46

$12.07 $12.07

11.52%

Cappuccino

$5.37 $5.37

$5.73 $5.73

-6.28%

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

$2.56 $2.56

$2.97 $2.97

-13.80%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.07 $2.07

$2.47 $2.47

-16.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.80 $6.80

$6.99 $6.99

-2.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.15 $6.15

$8.21 $8.21

-25.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.00 $1.00

$1.05 $1.05

-4.76%

White Bread (500g)

$3.73 $3.73

$4.08 $4.08

-8.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.26 $4.26

$5.50 $5.50

-22.55%

Eggs

$4.35 $4.35

$4.64 $4.64

-6.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.32 $17.32

$14.40 $14.40

20.28%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.66 $15.66

$15.20 $15.20

3.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.26 $15.26

$19.28 $19.28

-20.85%

Apples (1kg)

$5.65 $5.65

$5.14 $5.14

9.92%

Banana (1kg)

$1.63 $1.63

$1.76 $1.76

-7.39%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.28 $4.28

$4.34 $4.34

-1.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.08 $5.08

$4.36 $4.36

16.51%

Potato (1kg)

$2.96 $2.96

$2.44 $2.44

21.31%

Onion (1kg)

$2.26 $2.26

$2.79 $2.79

-19.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.10 $2.10

$2.52 $2.52

-16.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.45 $2.45

$2.66 $2.66

-7.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.34 $12.34

$14.90 $14.90

-17.18%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.80 $14.80

$14.97 $14.97

-1.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 $1.69

$2.45 $2.45

-31.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.55 $4.55

$3.54 $3.54

28.53%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.97 $0.97

$2.43 $2.43

-60.08%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.01 $30.01

$74.5 $74.5

-59.73%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$10.08 $10.08

$3.32 $3.32

203.61%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.38 $1.38

23.91%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$51.5 $51.5

$25.11 $25.11

105.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 $1.11

$1.09 $1.09

1.83%

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

$35.0K $35.0K

$31.9K $31.9K

9.76%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$26.8K $26.8K

-2.66%

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

$180 $180

$187 $187

-3.79%

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

$52.2 $52.2

$63.5 $63.5

-17.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.1 $75.1

$65.5 $65.5

14.66%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$69.6 $69.6

$75.7 $75.7

-8.10%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.05 $13.05

Cinema Ticket

$17.64 $17.64

$14.80 $14.80

19.19%

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

$1,448 $1,448

$2,025 $2,025

-28.48%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.6K $23.6K

$39.0K $39.0K

-39.49%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.6 $50.6

$64.2 $64.2

-21.20%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.29 $28.29

$51.7 $51.7

-45.31%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.9 $94.9

$95.6 $95.6

-0.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$149 $149

$145 $145

3.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,682 $1,682

$2,326 $2,326

-27.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,461 $1,461

$1,611 $1,611

-9.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,736 $2,736

$4,703 $4,703

-41.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,526 $2,526

$2,721 $2,721

-7.18%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,080 $4,080

$3,829 $3,829

6.57%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,137 $4,137

$2,533 $2,533

63.35%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,180 $4,180

$5,100 $5,100

-18.04%

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,682 in Bellingham, WA versus $2,326 in Chicago, IL. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 22% higher in Chicago, IL, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $85.0 in Bellingham, WA versus $98.0 in Chicago, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $437 vs $448 – making Bellingham, WA the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

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

Chicago, IL costs about 10% more than Bellingham, WA, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,228 per month in Bellingham, WA and $4,666 in Chicago, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Bellingham, WA, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $1,448 per month in Bellingham, WA and $2,025 in Chicago, IL. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 3% more in Chicago, IL, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,819 in Bellingham, WA and $3,111 in Chicago, IL. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Bellingham, WA costs $2,819 versus $3,111 in Chicago, IL. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Bellingham, WA. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chicago, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.