Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Airway Heights, WA Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Airway Heights, WA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,184 in Chicago, IL versus $2,475 in Airway Heights, WA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,725 in Chicago, IL versus $3,680 in Airway Heights, WA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,266 in Chicago, IL versus $4,886 in Airway Heights, WA.

Living in Chicago, IL is roughly 29% more expensive than in Airway Heights, WA, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 131% above, Airway Heights, WA 79% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.26 $20.26

$16.75 $16.75

20.96%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.8 $88.8

$76.5 $76.5

16.08%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.16 $13.16

$9.54 $9.54

37.95%

Cappuccino

$5.77 $5.77

$4.23 $4.23

36.41%

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

$2.63 $2.63

$2.34 $2.34

12.39%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 $2.34

$2.19 $2.19

6.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.06 $7.06

$5.86 $5.86

20.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.18 $9.18

$5.92 $5.92

55.07%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.30 $1.30

$0.94 $0.94

38.30%

White Bread (500g)

$4.05 $4.05

$3.28 $3.28

23.48%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.69 $5.69

$4.89 $4.89

16.36%

Eggs

$4.85 $4.85

$4.38 $4.38

10.73%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.08 $15.08

$16.04 $16.04

-5.99%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.87 $14.87

$10.99 $10.99

35.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.28 $19.28

$16.75 $16.75

15.10%

Apples (1kg)

$5.68 $5.68

$4.83 $4.83

17.60%

Banana (1kg)

$1.93 $1.93

$1.60 $1.60

20.62%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.10 $4.10

$5.52 $5.52

-25.72%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.11 $5.11

$4.10 $4.10

24.63%

Potato (1kg)

$2.92 $2.92

$2.44 $2.44

19.67%

Onion (1kg)

$2.77 $2.77

$2.93 $2.93

-5.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.30 $2.30

$2.04 $2.04

12.75%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.04 $3.04

$1.91 $1.91

59.16%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.93 $15.93

$10.82 $10.82

47.23%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.06 $15.06

$13.83 $13.83

8.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.88 $1.88

34.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.48 $3.48

$4.39 $4.39

-20.73%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.15 $2.15

17.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.8 $74.8

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.28 $3.28

$5.15 $5.15

-36.31%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.36 $1.36

$1.77 $1.77

-23.16%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.55 $22.55

$40.69 $40.69

-44.58%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 $1.22

$1.32 $1.32

-7.58%

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

$36.1K $36.1K

$33.7K $33.7K

7.19%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$26.1K $26.1K

-0.62%

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

$188 $188

$136 $136

38.47%

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

$69.0 $69.0

$51.9 $51.9

32.87%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.6 $63.6

$68.2 $68.2

-6.87%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.4 $63.4

$47.29 $47.29

34.15%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.11 $27.11

Cinema Ticket

$17.90 $17.90

$13.42 $13.42

33.38%

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

$1,526 $1,526

$1,361 $1,361

12.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.9K $31.9K

$14.2K $14.2K

124.94%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.1 $62.1

$53.0 $53.0

17.18%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$56.4 $56.4

$44.29 $44.29

27.30%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 $101

$103 $103

-2.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$156 $156

$143 $143

9.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,342 $2,342

$1,600 $1,600

46.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,698 $1,698

$1,288 $1,288

31.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,576 $4,576

$2,493 $2,493

83.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,806 $2,806

$2,140 $2,140

31.12%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,130 $4,130

$2,797 $2,797

47.65%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,740 $2,740

$2,448 $2,448

11.91%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,891 $4,891

$4,283 $4,283

14.18%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.38

6.23

2.41%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: September 6, 2026

Last update for Airway Heights, WA: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,342 in Chicago, IL and $1,600 in Airway Heights, WA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chicago, IL pays 14% 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: $89.0 in Chicago, IL vs $76.0 in Airway Heights, WA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $465 vs $399 per month, with Airway Heights, WA cheaper across the board.

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 Airway Heights, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Airway Heights, WA wins on cost – living expenses run 29% lower than in Chicago, IL. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Airway Heights, WA the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 14% 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: $2,342 in Chicago, IL versus $1,600 in Airway Heights, WA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 16% higher in Chicago, IL. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $3,184 per month in Chicago, IL versus $2,475 in Airway Heights, WA – a 29% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Airway Heights, WA is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

Both work as nomad bases, but Airway Heights, WA delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,475 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Airway Heights, WA hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Chicago, IL and Airway Heights, WA are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Airway Heights, WA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 29% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.