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

😐 Solo nomad: Bothell, WA is 16% more expensive than Chicago, IL without rent, and 2.8% more expensive with rent.
πŸ™‚ Family of 3: Bothell, WA is 11.2% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 0.3% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bothell, WA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.85 $20.85
$20.82 $20.82
0.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$100 $100
0.01%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.86 $13.86
$11.97 $11.97
15.79%
Cappuccino
$5.72 $5.72
$5.56 $5.56
2.88%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.31 $3.31
$3.11 $3.11
6.43%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38 $2.38
$2.42 $2.42
-1.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.19 $7.19
$6.86 $6.86
4.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.78 $7.78
$8.45 $8.45
-7.93%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Bothell, WA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.24 $1.24
$1.04 $1.04
19.23%
White Bread (500g)
$3.73 $3.73
$4.15 $4.15
-10.12%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.16 $5.16
$5.52 $5.52
-6.52%
Eggs
$6.94 $6.94
$4.65 $4.65
49.25%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.23 $17.23
$14.33 $14.33
20.24%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.13 $11.13
$14.88 $14.88
-25.20%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.9 $16.9
$19.34 $19.34
-12.62%
Apples (1kg)
$6.55 $6.55
$5.17 $5.17
26.69%
Banana (1kg)
$1.88 $1.88
$1.71 $1.71
9.94%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.3 $5.3
$4.41 $4.41
20.18%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.31 $5.31
$4.51 $4.51
17.74%
Potato (1kg)
$3.1 $3.1
$2.53 $2.53
22.53%
Onion (1kg)
$2.85 $2.85
$2.74 $2.74
4.01%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.95 $1.95
$2.43 $2.43
-19.75%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.57 $2.57
$2.7 $2.7
-4.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.64 $11.64
$15.19 $15.19
-23.37%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.72 $15.72
$16.42 $16.42
-4.26%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.96 $2.96
$2.35 $2.35
25.96%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.35 $4.35
$3.7 $3.7
17.57%
🚌 Getting Around
Bothell, WA
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.68 $2.68
$2.53 $2.53
5.93%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$98.7 $98.7
$74.1 $74.1
33.16%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.66 $2.66
$3.34 $3.34
-20.36%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.42 $1.42
20.42%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.69 $29.69
$25.42 $25.42
16.80%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.17 $1.17
$1.08 $1.08
8.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.5K $33.5K
$32.4K $32.4K
3.45%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1K $26.1K
$26.2K $26.2K
-0.29%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bothell, WA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$157 $157
$188 $188
-16.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$61.9 $61.9
$63.7 $63.7
-2.83%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$79.2 $79.2
$65.2 $65.2
21.52%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Bothell, WA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$58.9 $58.9
$76.7 $76.7
-23.27%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.24 $15.24
$14.93 $14.93
2.08%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bothell, WA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,435 $1,435
$2,063 $2,063
-30.43%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$29.3K $29.3K
$39.2K $39.2K
-25.19%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Bothell, WA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52 $52
$64.3 $64.3
-19.10%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.6 $52.6
$52.4 $52.4
0.31%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$119 $119
$95.2 $95.2
24.85%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$141 $141
$145 $145
-2.32%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bothell, WA
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,896 $1,896
$2,378 $2,378
-20.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,617 $1,617
$1,584 $1,584
2.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,285 $3,285
$4,763 $4,763
-31.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,982 $2,982
$2,815 $2,815
5.95%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,651 $7,651
$3,588 $3,588
113.25%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,765 $5,765
$2,490 $2,490
131.49%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Bothell, WA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,928 $5,928
$5,275 $5,275
12.38%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.46
6.6
-2.12%

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

Last update for Bothell, WA: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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