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

🙂 Solo nomad: Buffalo, NY is 2.7% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 12.8% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Buffalo, NY is 6% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 20.5% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$30.09 $30.09

$20.82 $20.82

44.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$86.2 $86.2

$100 $100

-14.08%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.2 $12.2

$11.97 $11.97

1.92%

Cappuccino

$5.42 $5.42

$5.56 $5.56

-2.52%

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

$2.67 $2.67

$3.11 $3.11

-14.15%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.13 $2.13

$2.42 $2.42

-11.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.39 $5.39

$6.86 $6.86

-21.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.92 $6.92

$8.45 $8.45

-18.11%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.89 $0.89

$1.04 $1.04

-14.42%

White Bread (500g)

$3.92 $3.92

$4.15 $4.15

-5.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.72 $4.72

$5.52 $5.52

-14.49%

Eggs

$4.02 $4.02

$4.65 $4.65

-13.55%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.17 $13.17

$14.33 $14.33

-8.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.13 $8.13

$14.88 $14.88

-45.36%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.82 $11.82

$19.34 $19.34

-38.88%

Apples (1kg)

$3.85 $3.85

$5.17 $5.17

-25.53%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 $1.61

$1.71 $1.71

-5.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.23 $5.23

$4.41 $4.41

18.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.87 $4.87

$4.51 $4.51

7.98%

Potato (1kg)

$2.46 $2.46

$2.53 $2.53

-2.77%

Onion (1kg)

$3.61 $3.61

$2.74 $2.74

31.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.45 $2.45

$2.43 $2.43

0.82%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.45 $2.45

$2.7 $2.7

-9.26%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.74 $13.74

$15.19 $15.19

-9.55%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.78 $17.78

$16.42 $16.42

8.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 $1.76

$2.35 $2.35

-25.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.52 $7.52

$3.7 $3.7

103.24%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.02 $2.02

$2.53 $2.53

-20.16%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$91.9 $91.9

$74.1 $74.1

23.93%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.19 $5.19

$3.34 $3.34

55.39%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.2 $2.2

$1.42 $1.42

54.93%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$44.39 $44.39

$25.42 $25.42

74.63%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.9 $0.9

$1.08 $1.08

-16.67%

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

$32.3K $32.3K

$32.4K $32.4K

-0.27%

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

$24.5K $24.5K

$26.2K $26.2K

-6.43%

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

$254 $254

$188 $188

34.79%

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

$46.28 $46.28

$63.7 $63.7

-27.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61 $61

$65.2 $65.2

-6.46%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.36 $33.36

$76.7 $76.7

-56.52%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$56.5 $56.5

$13.03 $13.03

333.23%

Cinema Ticket

$14.1 $14.1

$14.93 $14.93

-5.56%

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

$901 $901

$2,063 $2,063

-56.30%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$28.6K $28.6K

$39.2K $39.2K

-27.02%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.76 $45.76

$64.3 $64.3

-28.84%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.48 $46.48

$52.4 $52.4

-11.28%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 $102

$95.2 $95.2

6.91%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 $113

$145 $145

-21.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,561 $1,561

$2,378 $2,378

-34.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,173 $1,173

$1,584 $1,584

-26.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,043 $2,043

$4,763 $4,763

-57.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,747 $1,747

$2,815 $2,815

-37.95%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,235 $2,235

$3,588 $3,588

-37.72%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,904 $1,904

$2,490 $2,490

-23.53%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,351 $3,351

$5,275 $5,275

-36.47%

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 Buffalo, NY: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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