Cost of Living Comparison Between Binghamton, NY and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Binghamton, NY and Chicago, IL

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,325 in Binghamton, NY versus $3,077 in Chicago, IL.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,466 in Binghamton, NY versus $4,628 in Chicago, IL.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,608 in Binghamton, NY versus $6,179 in Chicago, IL.

Living in Binghamton, NY costs roughly 24% less than in Chicago, IL, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Binghamton, NY 73% above, Chicago, IL 130% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.12 $20.12

$20.91 $20.91

-3.78%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$49.69 $49.69

$98.1 $98.1

-49.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.86 $9.86

$11.86 $11.86

-16.86%

Cappuccino

$4.56 $4.56

$5.60 $5.60

-18.57%

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

$2.39 $2.39

$3.07 $3.07

-22.15%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.01 $2.01

$2.47 $2.47

-18.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.89 $4.89

$7.14 $7.14

-31.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.87 $4.87

$8.08 $8.08

-39.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.91 $0.91

$1.05 $1.05

-13.33%

White Bread (500g)

$3.17 $3.17

$4.11 $4.11

-22.87%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.01 $6.01

$5.61 $5.61

7.13%

Eggs

$4.23 $4.23

$4.51 $4.51

-6.21%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.12 $16.12

$14.27 $14.27

12.96%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.26 $13.26

$14.89 $14.89

-10.95%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.75 $15.75

$19.19 $19.19

-17.93%

Apples (1kg)

$7.94 $7.94

$5.14 $5.14

54.47%

Banana (1kg)

$2.86 $2.86

$1.77 $1.77

61.58%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.31 $6.31

$4.39 $4.39

43.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$4.56 $4.56

21.05%

Potato (1kg)

$3.74 $3.74

$2.54 $2.54

47.24%

Onion (1kg)

$3.47 $3.47

$2.75 $2.75

26.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.02 $2.02

$2.42 $2.42

-16.53%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.70 $2.70

$2.62 $2.62

3.05%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.05 $15.05

$14.92 $14.92

0.87%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.30 $15.30

$14.80 $14.80

3.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 $1.77

$2.46 $2.46

-28.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.51 $3.51

$3.73 $3.73

-5.90%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.94 $1.94

$2.48 $2.48

-21.77%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$71.1 $71.1

$75.4 $75.4

-5.75%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.08 $6.08

$3.18 $3.18

91.19%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.13 $2.13

$1.42 $1.42

50.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.49 $41.49

$24.94 $24.94

66.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.85 $0.85

$1.06 $1.06

-19.81%

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

$24.8K $24.8K

$31.9K $31.9K

-22.18%

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

$28.7K $28.7K

$26.0K $26.0K

10.14%

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

$199 $199

$185 $185

7.74%

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

$47.78 $47.78

$61.7 $61.7

-22.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$77.7 $77.7

$66.9 $66.9

16.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.0 $53.0

$75.2 $75.2

-29.52%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.10 $40.10

$13.08 $13.08

206.57%

Cinema Ticket

$12.76 $12.76

$14.71 $14.71

-13.26%

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

$1,247 $1,247

$2,020 $2,020

-38.27%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$40.3K $40.3K

$39.4K $39.4K

2.33%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.1 $53.1

$64.6 $64.6

-17.77%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.18 $41.18

$52.5 $52.5

-21.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$110 $110

$97.8 $97.8

12.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$130 $130

$148 $148

-12.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,162 $1,162

$2,313 $2,313

-49.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$874 $874

$1,590 $1,590

-45.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,109 $2,109

$4,608 $4,608

-54.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,511 $1,511

$2,779 $2,779

-45.63%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,256 $1,256

$3,922 $3,922

-67.96%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,261 $1,261

$2,613 $2,613

-51.74%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,619 $3,619

$5,217 $5,217

-30.63%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.55

6.6

-0.76%

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

Last update for Binghamton, NY: June 2, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,162 in Binghamton, NY and $2,313 in Chicago, IL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chicago, IL pays 44% 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: $50.0 in Binghamton, NY vs $98.0 in Chicago, IL. Groceries flip the comparison at $458 vs $447, with Chicago, IL cheaper for home cooking.

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

Binghamton, NY vs Chicago, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Binghamton, NY is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 32% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Chicago, IL earns 44% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,162 in Binghamton, NY versus $2,313 in Chicago, IL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Chicago, IL pay roughly 3% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

Dining out is cheaper in Binghamton, NY – a meal for two runs $50.0 versus $98.0 in Chicago, IL. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,325 in Binghamton, NY versus $3,077 in Chicago, IL, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Binghamton, NY but tight or insufficient in Chicago, IL. The gap between the two cities makes Binghamton, NY the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Binghamton, NY is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Chicago, IL, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Expats usually find Binghamton, NY gentler on the wallet – expenses run 32% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.