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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,541 per month in Bradford, PA vs $3,077 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,560 per month in Bradford, PA vs $4,628 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,579 per month in Bradford, PA vs $6,179 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Bradford, PA is about 17% cheaper than Chicago, IL, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Bradford, PA and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – Bradford, PA by 90%, Chicago, IL by 130%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.79 $19.79

$20.91 $20.91

-5.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.9 $50.9

$98.1 $98.1

-48.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.97 $9.97

$11.86 $11.86

-15.94%

Cappuccino

$5.45 $5.45

$5.60 $5.60

-2.68%

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

$2.66 $2.66

$3.07 $3.07

-13.36%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 $2.11

$2.47 $2.47

-14.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.65 $5.65

$7.14 $7.14

-20.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.19 $7.19

$8.08 $8.08

-11.01%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.92 $0.92

$1.05 $1.05

-12.38%

White Bread (500g)

$2.24 $2.24

$4.11 $4.11

-45.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.35 $3.35

$5.61 $5.61

-40.29%

Eggs

$3.84 $3.84

$4.51 $4.51

-14.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.20 $13.20

$14.27 $14.27

-7.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.24 $8.24

$14.89 $14.89

-44.66%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.21 $12.21

$19.19 $19.19

-36.37%

Apples (1kg)

$3.89 $3.89

$5.14 $5.14

-24.32%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 $1.55

$1.77 $1.77

-12.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.21 $3.21

$4.39 $4.39

-26.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.34 $3.34

$4.56 $4.56

-26.75%

Potato (1kg)

$2.57 $2.57

$2.54 $2.54

1.18%

Onion (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$2.75 $2.75

1.45%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.01 $2.01

$2.42 $2.42

-16.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.97 $1.97

$2.62 $2.62

-24.81%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.85 $6.85

$14.92 $14.92

-54.09%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.83 $7.83

$14.80 $14.80

-47.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 $1.76

$2.46 $2.46

-28.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.44 $3.44

$3.73 $3.73

-7.77%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.03 $2.03

$2.48 $2.48

-18.15%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.4 $75.4

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.29 $5.29

$3.18 $3.18

66.35%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.30 $2.30

$1.42 $1.42

61.97%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$45.28 $45.28

$24.94 $24.94

81.56%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.67 $0.67

$1.06 $1.06

-36.79%

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

$33.2K $33.2K

$31.9K $31.9K

3.97%

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

$24.6K $24.6K

$26.0K $26.0K

-5.59%

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

$250 $250

$185 $185

35.03%

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

$46.93 $46.93

$61.7 $61.7

-23.99%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$40.24 $40.24

$66.9 $66.9

-39.87%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.73 $42.73

$75.2 $75.2

-43.16%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.08 $13.08

Cinema Ticket

$10.84 $10.84

$14.71 $14.71

-26.31%

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

$910 $910

$2,020 $2,020

-54.98%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$28.1K $28.1K

$39.4K $39.4K

-28.64%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.27 $35.27

$64.6 $64.6

-45.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.03 $40.03

$52.5 $52.5

-23.68%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 $103

$97.8 $97.8

5.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.4 $78.4

$148 $148

-46.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$751 $751

$2,313 $2,313

-67.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,331 $1,331

$1,590 $1,590

-16.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,659 $2,659

$4,608 $4,608

-42.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,262 $2,262

$2,779 $2,779

-18.61%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,730 $2,730

$3,922 $3,922

-30.39%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,376 $2,376

$2,613 $2,613

-9.04%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,800 $3,800

$5,217 $5,217

-27.17%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.53

6.6

-1.06%

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

Last update for Bradford, PA: May 31, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $751 in Bradford, PA versus $2,313 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 37% 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 $51.0 in Bradford, PA versus $98.0 in Chicago, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $312 vs $447 – making Bradford, PA 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

Bradford, PA vs Chicago, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chicago, IL costs about 21% more than Bradford, PA, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,812 per month in Bradford, PA and $4,616 in Chicago, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,541 in Bradford, PA and $3,077 in Chicago, IL. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $910 per month in Bradford, PA and $2,020 in Chicago, IL. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Bradford, PA, where all-in costs run around $2,541, than in Chicago, IL at $3,077. In Bradford, PA it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chicago, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Bradford, PA costs $2,541 versus $3,077 in Chicago, IL. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

If budget matters most, go with Bradford, PA. 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.