Cost of Living Comparison Between Bethel, AK and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Bethel, AK and Chicago, IL

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,517 in Bethel, AK versus $3,184 in Chicago, IL.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,695 in Bethel, AK versus $4,725 in Chicago, IL.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,874 in Bethel, AK versus $6,266 in Chicago, IL.

Living in Bethel, AK costs roughly 21% less than in Chicago, IL, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Bethel, AK 82% above, Chicago, IL 131% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.06 $18.06

$20.26 $20.26

-10.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$71.1 $71.1

$88.8 $88.8

-19.89%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.34 $11.34

$13.16 $13.16

-13.83%

Cappuccino

$4.53 $4.53

$5.77 $5.77

-21.49%

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

$2.61 $2.61

$2.63 $2.63

-0.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.09 $2.09

$2.34 $2.34

-10.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.90 $6.90

$7.06 $7.06

-2.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.26 $6.26

$9.18 $9.18

-31.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.88 $0.88

$1.30 $1.30

-32.31%

White Bread (500g)

$3.12 $3.12

$4.05 $4.05

-22.96%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.74 $3.74

$5.69 $5.69

-34.27%

Eggs

$3.93 $3.93

$4.85 $4.85

-18.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.55 $12.55

$15.08 $15.08

-16.78%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.87 $12.87

$14.87 $14.87

-13.45%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.91 $16.91

$19.28 $19.28

-12.29%

Apples (1kg)

$5.12 $5.12

$5.68 $5.68

-9.86%

Banana (1kg)

$1.52 $1.52

$1.93 $1.93

-21.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.00 $5.00

$4.10 $4.10

21.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.96 $4.96

$5.11 $5.11

-2.94%

Potato (1kg)

$2.88 $2.88

$2.92 $2.92

-1.37%

Onion (1kg)

$3.27 $3.27

$2.77 $2.77

18.05%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.30 $2.30

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$3.04 $3.04

-28.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.64 $10.64

$15.93 $15.93

-33.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.97 $16.97

$15.06 $15.06

12.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 $1.69

$2.53 $2.53

-33.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.49 $3.49

$3.48 $3.48

0.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.29 $2.29

$2.53 $2.53

-9.49%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.8 $74.8

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.75 $2.75

$3.28 $3.28

-16.16%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.89 $1.89

$1.36 $1.36

38.97%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$31.22 $31.22

$22.55 $22.55

38.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.83 $0.83

$1.22 $1.22

-31.97%

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

$40.5K $40.5K

$36.1K $36.1K

12.02%

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

$23.9K $23.9K

$26.0K $26.0K

-8.07%

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

$212 $212

$188 $188

12.71%

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

$57.3 $57.3

$69.0 $69.0

-16.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.6 $75.6

$63.6 $63.6

18.99%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.44 $44.44

$63.4 $63.4

-29.95%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.11 $27.11

Cinema Ticket

$15.73 $15.73

$17.90 $17.90

-12.12%

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

$1,509 $1,509

$1,526 $1,526

-1.16%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.7K $24.7K

$31.9K $31.9K

-22.47%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$44.82 $44.82

$62.1 $62.1

-27.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.67 $37.67

$56.4 $56.4

-33.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.9 $77.9

$101 $101

-22.79%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$116 $116

$156 $156

-25.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,819 $1,819

$2,342 $2,342

-22.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,417 $1,417

$1,698 $1,698

-16.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,613 $2,613

$4,576 $4,576

-42.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,183 $2,183

$2,806 $2,806

-22.18%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,992 $2,992

$4,130 $4,130

-27.57%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,519 $2,519

$2,740 $2,740

-8.06%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,891 $4,891

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.12

6.38

-4.08%

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

Last update for Bethel, AK: September 7, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,819 in Bethel, AK and $2,342 in Chicago, IL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $71.0 in Bethel, AK vs $89.0 in Chicago, IL for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $403 vs $465 per month, with Bethel, AK 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

Bethel, AK vs Chicago, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bethel, AK and Chicago, IL differ by about 27% in total monthly costs ($2,517 vs $3,184 including rent). Bethel, AK is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $3,775 in Bethel, AK and $4,776 in Chicago, IL to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,819 in Bethel, AK versus $2,342 in Chicago, IL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 15% higher in Chicago, IL. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $2,517 per month in Bethel, AK versus $3,184 in Chicago, IL – a 27% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Bethel, AK is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Bethel, AK gentler on the wallet – expenses run 27% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.