Cost of Living Comparison Between Bethlehem, PA and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Bethlehem, PA and Chicago, IL

🙂 Solo nomad: Bethlehem, PA is 16.6% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 8.6% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Bethlehem, PA is 21.4% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 20.7% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.3 $18.3

$20.82 $20.82

-12.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.7 $50.7

$100 $100

-49.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.13 $13.13

$11.97 $11.97

9.69%

Cappuccino

$4.88 $4.88

$5.56 $5.56

-12.23%

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

$2.93 $2.93

$3.11 $3.11

-5.79%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 $1.96

$2.42 $2.42

-19.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.12 $5.12

$6.86 $6.86

-25.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.87 $7.87

$8.45 $8.45

-6.86%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.07 $1.07

$1.04 $1.04

2.88%

White Bread (500g)

$4.09 $4.09

$4.15 $4.15

-1.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.3 $4.3

$5.52 $5.52

-22.10%

Eggs

$4.14 $4.14

$4.65 $4.65

-10.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.05 $12.05

$14.33 $14.33

-15.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$17.09 $17.09

$14.88 $14.88

14.85%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$21.82 $21.82

$19.34 $19.34

12.82%

Apples (1kg)

$11.74 $11.74

$5.17 $5.17

127.08%

Banana (1kg)

$1.35 $1.35

$1.71 $1.71

-21.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.38 $4.38

$4.41 $4.41

-0.68%

Tomato (1kg)

$7.23 $7.23

$4.51 $4.51

60.31%

Potato (1kg)

$5.4 $5.4

$2.53 $2.53

113.44%

Onion (1kg)

$9.89 $9.89

$2.74 $2.74

260.95%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.7 $2.7

$2.43 $2.43

11.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.93 $1.93

$2.7 $2.7

-28.52%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.98 $9.98

$15.19 $15.19

-34.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.74 $15.74

$16.42 $16.42

-4.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.25 $4.25

$2.35 $2.35

80.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.23 $5.23

$3.7 $3.7

41.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.03 $2.03

$2.53 $2.53

-19.76%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$59.8 $59.8

$74.1 $74.1

-19.38%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.52 $3.52

$3.34 $3.34

5.39%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.42 $1.42

16.20%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.43 $29.43

$25.42 $25.42

15.77%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.87 $0.87

$1.08 $1.08

-19.44%

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

$29.8K $29.8K

$32.4K $32.4K

-7.99%

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

$25.3K $25.3K

$26.2K $26.2K

-3.47%

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

$227 $227

$188 $188

20.39%

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

$64 $64

$63.7 $63.7

0.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$60.3 $60.3

$65.2 $65.2

-7.55%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.46 $36.46

$76.7 $76.7

-52.48%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$14.94 $14.94

$14.93 $14.93

0.07%

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

$1,006 $1,006

$2,063 $2,063

-51.21%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23K $23K

$39.2K $39.2K

-41.18%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.3 $55.3

$64.3 $64.3

-13.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.48 $30.48

$52.4 $52.4

-41.82%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.9 $65.9

$95.2 $95.2

-30.74%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$81.4 $81.4

$145 $145

-43.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,472 $1,472

$2,378 $2,378

-38.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,319 $1,319

$1,584 $1,584

-16.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,120 $2,120

$4,763 $4,763

-55.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,991 $1,991

$2,815 $2,815

-29.28%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,086 $2,086

$3,588 $3,588

-41.86%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,967 $1,967

$2,490 $2,490

-21.03%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,767 $3,767

$5,275 $5,275

-28.58%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.62

6.6

0.30%

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

Last update for Bethlehem, PA: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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