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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,117 in Chicago, IL versus $2,791 in Albany, NY.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,695 in Chicago, IL versus $4,396 in Albany, NY.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,273 in Chicago, IL versus $6,001 in Albany, NY.

Living in Chicago, IL is roughly 12% more expensive than in Albany, NY, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 128% above, Albany, NY 104% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.92 $19.92

$27.80 $27.80

-28.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.5 $88.5

$100 $100

-11.72%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.94 $12.94

$15.17 $15.17

-14.70%

Cappuccino

$5.54 $5.54

$6.65 $6.65

-16.69%

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

$2.74 $2.74

$2.68 $2.68

2.24%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 $2.36

$2.02 $2.02

16.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.12 $7.12

$5.86 $5.86

21.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.73 $8.73

$10.37 $10.37

-15.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$1.06 $1.06

26.42%

White Bread (500g)

$4.17 $4.17

$3.30 $3.30

26.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.73 $5.73

$5.10 $5.10

12.35%

Eggs

$4.89 $4.89

$5.34 $5.34

-8.43%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.77 $14.77

$16.43 $16.43

-10.10%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.85 $14.85

$16.19 $16.19

-8.28%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.61 $19.61

$18.58 $18.58

5.54%

Apples (1kg)

$5.57 $5.57

$4.82 $4.82

15.56%

Banana (1kg)

$1.92 $1.92

$1.39 $1.39

38.13%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.17 $4.17

$5.57 $5.57

-25.13%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.86 $4.86

$4.69 $4.69

3.62%

Potato (1kg)

$2.84 $2.84

$3.25 $3.25

-12.62%

Onion (1kg)

$2.80 $2.80

$3.66 $3.66

-23.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.20 $2.20

$2.26 $2.26

-2.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.06 $3.06

$2.05 $2.05

49.27%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$16.16 $16.16

$15.14 $15.14

6.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.82 $14.82

$13.79 $13.79

7.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.99 $1.99

27.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.35 $3.35

$3.92 $3.92

-14.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.55 $2.55

$1.52 $1.52

67.76%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.6 $75.6

$64.4 $64.4

17.36%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.30 $3.30

$4.97 $4.97

-33.60%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.36 $1.36

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.12 $25.12

$30.26 $30.26

-16.99%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.17 $1.17

$1.04 $1.04

12.50%

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

$36.0K $36.0K

$37.1K $37.1K

-2.91%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$25.7K $25.7K

2.17%

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

$191 $191

$215 $215

-11.03%

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

$67.9 $67.9

$71.3 $71.3

-4.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.7 $61.7

$90.5 $90.5

-31.86%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.5 $63.5

$38.92 $38.92

63.08%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.14 $27.14

$37.90 $37.90

-28.39%

Cinema Ticket

$18.02 $18.02

$14.85 $14.85

21.35%

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

$1,522 $1,522

$1,517 $1,517

0.34%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.3K $31.3K

$17.1K $17.1K

82.66%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.7 $63.7

$55.0 $55.0

15.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.3 $55.3

$39.46 $39.46

40.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100 $100

$113 $113

-11.16%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$153 $153

$106 $106

43.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,406 $2,406

$1,425 $1,425

68.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,653 $1,653

$1,258 $1,258

31.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,577 $4,577

$2,912 $2,912

57.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,771 $2,771

$2,633 $2,633

5.25%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,031 $4,031

$2,504 $2,504

61.01%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,745 $2,745

$2,475 $2,475

10.92%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,804 $4,804

$4,128 $4,128

16.40%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.38

6.12

4.25%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: September 13, 2026

Last update for Albany, NY: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,406 in Chicago, IL and $1,425 in Albany, NY. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chicago, IL pays 16% 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 $100 in Albany, NY. Groceries flip the comparison at $464 vs $445, with Albany, NY 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 Albany, NY: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Albany, NY wins on cost – living expenses run 12% lower than in Chicago, IL. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Albany, NY the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 16% 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: $2,406 in Chicago, IL versus $1,425 in Albany, NY. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Albany, NY – a meal for two runs $100 versus $88.0 in Chicago, IL. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $3,117 per month in Chicago, IL versus $2,791 in Albany, NY – a 12% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Albany, NY 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 Albany, NY delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,791 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Albany, NY hard to pass up.

Expats usually find Albany, NY gentler on the wallet – expenses run 12% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.