Cost of Living Comparison Between Burlington, VT and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Burlington, VT and Chicago, IL

๐Ÿ™‚ Solo nomad: Burlington, VT is 13.9% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 3.8% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ™‚ Family of 3: Burlington, VT is 10.8% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 12.2% cheaper with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Burlington, VT
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$21.23 $21.23
$20.82 $20.82
1.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.8 $79.8
$100 $100
-20.52%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.44 $11.44
$11.97 $11.97
-4.43%
Cappuccino
$5.31 $5.31
$5.56 $5.56
-4.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.57 $2.57
$3.11 $3.11
-17.36%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.27 $2.27
$2.42 $2.42
-6.20%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.13 $7.13
$6.86 $6.86
3.94%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.23 $8.23
$8.45 $8.45
-2.60%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Burlington, VT
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.14 $1.14
$1.04 $1.04
9.62%
White Bread (500g)
$4.2 $4.2
$4.15 $4.15
1.20%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.57 $5.57
$5.52 $5.52
0.91%
Eggs
$4.45 $4.45
$4.65 $4.65
-4.30%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.87 $13.87
$14.33 $14.33
-3.21%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.89 $10.89
$14.88 $14.88
-26.81%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.36 $13.36
$19.34 $19.34
-30.92%
Apples (1kg)
$5.9 $5.9
$5.17 $5.17
14.12%
Banana (1kg)
$1.92 $1.92
$1.71 $1.71
12.28%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.4 $5.4
$4.41 $4.41
22.45%
Tomato (1kg)
$7.08 $7.08
$4.51 $4.51
56.98%
Potato (1kg)
$4.53 $4.53
$2.53 $2.53
79.05%
Onion (1kg)
$3.8 $3.8
$2.74 $2.74
38.69%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.82 $2.82
$2.43 $2.43
16.05%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.01 $1.01
$2.7 $2.7
-62.59%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$12.29 $12.29
$15.19 $15.19
-19.09%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.4 $12.4
$16.42 $16.42
-24.48%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 $1.76
$2.35 $2.35
-25.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07 $3.07
$3.7 $3.7
-17.03%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Burlington, VT
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.02 $2.02
$2.53 $2.53
-20.16%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$50.8 $50.8
$74.1 $74.1
-31.51%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.65 $2.65
$3.34 $3.34
-20.66%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.79 $1.79
$1.42 $1.42
26.06%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$28.39 $28.39
$25.42 $25.42
11.68%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.89 $0.89
$1.08 $1.08
-17.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.5K $30.5K
$32.4K $32.4K
-5.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.9K $24.9K
$26.2K $26.2K
-5.10%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Burlington, VT
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$193 $193
$188 $188
2.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$57 $57
$63.7 $63.7
-10.50%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$59.4 $59.4
$65.2 $65.2
-8.96%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Burlington, VT
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$75.6 $75.6
$76.7 $76.7
-1.47%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$27.92 $27.92
$13.03 $13.03
114.27%
Cinema Ticket
$12.02 $12.02
$14.93 $14.93
-19.49%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Burlington, VT
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,277 $1,277
$2,063 $2,063
-38.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.8K $11.8K
$39.2K $39.2K
-69.78%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Burlington, VT
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.3 $63.3
$64.3 $64.3
-1.51%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.38 $30.38
$52.4 $52.4
-42.01%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$56 $56
$95.2 $95.2
-41.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.6 $89.6
$145 $145
-38.05%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Burlington, VT
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,781 $1,781
$2,378 $2,378
-25.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,814 $1,814
$1,584 $1,584
14.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,001 $3,001
$4,763 $4,763
-36.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,418 $2,418
$2,815 $2,815
-14.10%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,817 $3,817
$3,588 $3,588
6.38%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,497 $3,497
$2,490 $2,490
40.41%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Burlington, VT
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,483 $4,483
$5,275 $5,275
-15.01%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.43
6.6
-2.58%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Burlington, VT: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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