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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,106 in Chicago, IL versus $1,947 in Aberdeen, WA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,599 in Chicago, IL versus $3,044 in Aberdeen, WA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,092 in Chicago, IL versus $4,141 in Aberdeen, WA.

Living in Chicago, IL is roughly 60% more expensive than in Aberdeen, WA, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 126% above, Aberdeen, WA 42% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.86 $19.86

$22.32 $22.32

-11.02%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.3 $88.3

$122 $122

-27.77%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.23 $13.23

$12.05 $12.05

9.79%

Cappuccino

$5.86 $5.86

$5.05 $5.05

16.04%

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

$2.61 $2.61

$2.96 $2.96

-11.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 $2.32

$2.53 $2.53

-8.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.03 $7.03

$6.18 $6.18

13.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.25 $9.25

$6.89 $6.89

34.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$1.09 $1.09

22.94%

White Bread (500g)

$4.19 $4.19

$3.18 $3.18

31.76%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.50 $5.50

$3.49 $3.49

57.59%

Eggs

$4.71 $4.71

$5.48 $5.48

-14.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.72 $14.72

$8.77 $8.77

67.84%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.53 $14.53

$8.09 $8.09

79.60%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.69 $19.69

$14.46 $14.46

36.17%

Apples (1kg)

$5.64 $5.64

$5.48 $5.48

2.92%

Banana (1kg)

$1.97 $1.97

$1.93 $1.93

2.07%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.04 $4.04

$7.37 $7.37

-45.18%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.07 $5.07

$4.50 $4.50

12.67%

Potato (1kg)

$2.94 $2.94

$2.93 $2.93

0.34%

Onion (1kg)

$2.92 $2.92

$3.16 $3.16

-7.59%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.28 $2.28

$2.77 $2.77

-17.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.12 $3.12

$3.17 $3.17

-1.58%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$16.19 $16.19

$10.54 $10.54

53.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.17 $15.17

$13.08 $13.08

15.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.67 $2.67

$1.78 $1.78

50.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.48 $3.48

$2.63 $2.63

32.32%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.54 $2.54

$0.52 $0.52

388.46%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$76.0 $76.0

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.16 $3.16

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.37 $1.37

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.66 $22.66

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 $1.20

$1.14 $1.14

5.26%

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

$37.0K $37.0K

$32.6K $32.6K

13.58%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$25.3K $25.3K

2.85%

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

$190 $190

$156 $156

21.40%

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

$68.5 $68.5

$54.7 $54.7

25.21%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.1 $61.1

$63.8 $63.8

-4.36%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.8 $63.8

$30.78 $30.78

107.21%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.80 $27.80

Cinema Ticket

$18.28 $18.28

$5.08 $5.08

259.84%

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

$1,525 $1,525

$1,011 $1,011

50.84%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$32.0K $32.0K

$48.9K $48.9K

-34.50%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.0 $64.0

$44.53 $44.53

43.77%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.4 $54.4

$28.75 $28.75

89.22%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 $101

$54.8 $54.8

83.48%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$153 $153

$65.9 $65.9

132.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,421 $2,421

$938 $938

158.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,690 $1,690

$818 $818

106.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,584 $4,584

$1,276 $1,276

259.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,782 $2,782

$1,341 $1,341

107.54%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,170 $4,170

$2,987 $2,987

39.60%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,739 $2,739

$2,931 $2,931

-6.56%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,777 $4,777

$4,376 $4,376

9.18%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.38

6.42

-0.62%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: August 29, 2026

Last update for Aberdeen, WA: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,421 in Chicago, IL and $938 in Aberdeen, WA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chicago, IL pays 9% 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: $88.0 in Chicago, IL vs $122 in Aberdeen, WA. Groceries flip the comparison at $465 vs $384, with Aberdeen, WA 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

Chicago, IL vs Aberdeen, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Aberdeen, WA is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 60% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 9% higher in Chicago, IL, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,421 in Chicago, IL versus $938 in Aberdeen, WA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,525 in Chicago, IL versus $1,011 in Aberdeen, WA. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Aberdeen, WA – a meal for two runs $122 versus $88.0 in Chicago, IL. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,947 in Aberdeen, WA versus $3,106 in Chicago, IL, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Aberdeen, WA but tight or insufficient in Chicago, IL. The gap between the two cities makes Aberdeen, WA the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Aberdeen, WA 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 Aberdeen, WA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 60% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.