Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Albrightsville, PA

For one person, living costs are similar in Chicago, IL and in Albrightsville, PA: $3,139 and $3,012 a month, rent and utilities included.

Chicago, IL
🇺🇸 United States
$3,139
/mo nomad
Albrightsville, PA
🇺🇸 United States
$3,012
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chicago, IL and in Albrightsville, PA

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chicago, IL and in Albrightsville, PA actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,139 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,012 in Albrightsville, PA, rent included.

  • Chicago, IL $3,139
  • Albrightsville, PA $3,012

A couple spends around $4,627 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,336 in Albrightsville, PA, rent included.

  • Chicago, IL $4,627
  • Albrightsville, PA $4,336

A family of three spends $6,115 per month in Chicago, IL vs $5,661 in Albrightsville, PA, rent included.

  • Chicago, IL $6,115
  • Albrightsville, PA $5,661

Chicago, IL costs about 4% more than Albrightsville, PA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chicago, IL and Albrightsville, PA sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 132%, Albrightsville, PA by 122%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Albrightsville, PA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.65 $20.65
$20.13 $20.13
2.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$90.2 $90.2
$105 $105
-13.67%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.94 $12.94
$11.82 $11.82
9.48%
Cappuccino
$5.60 $5.60
$5.65 $5.65
-0.88%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.64 $2.64
$2.56 $2.56
3.13%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.27 $2.27
$2.19 $2.19
3.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.98 $6.98
$8.21 $8.21
-14.98%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.83 $8.83
$8.94 $8.94
-1.23%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Albrightsville, PA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.27 $1.27
$1.65 $1.65
-23.03%
White Bread (500g)
$3.80 $3.80
$3.51 $3.51
8.26%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.30 $5.30
$7.31 $7.31
-27.50%
Eggs
$4.76 $4.76
$6.58 $6.58
-27.66%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.96 $13.96
$16.24 $16.24
-14.04%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.61 $14.61
$16.98 $16.98
-13.96%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.77 $18.77
$20.39 $20.39
-7.95%
Apples (1kg)
$5.19 $5.19
$7.85 $7.85
-33.89%
Banana (1kg)
$1.98 $1.98
$3.82 $3.82
-48.17%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.93 $3.93
$5.51 $5.51
-28.68%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.96 $4.96
$6.03 $6.03
-17.74%
Potato (1kg)
$2.76 $2.76
$4.11 $4.11
-32.85%
Onion (1kg)
$2.76 $2.76
$4.78 $4.78
-42.26%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.22 $2.22
$2.64 $2.64
-15.91%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.98 $2.98
$2.53 $2.53
17.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.02 $14.02
$14.80 $14.80
-5.27%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.28 $15.28
$21.28 $21.28
-28.20%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.58 $2.58
$2.71 $2.71
-4.80%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.50 $3.50
$3.24 $3.24
8.02%
🚌 Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Albrightsville, PA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.47 $2.47
$1.71 $1.71
44.44%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.8 $74.8
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$2.95 $2.95
13.22%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.43 $1.43
$2.15 $2.15
-33.49%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$24.32 $24.32
$42.28 $42.28
-42.48%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.26 $1.26
$1.16 $1.16
8.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0K $35.0K
$31.2K $31.2K
12.05%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1K $26.1K
$25.9K $25.9K
0.84%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Albrightsville, PA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$193 $193
$248 $248
-22.30%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$68.3 $68.3
$61.7 $61.7
10.60%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$61.3 $61.3
$63.0 $63.0
-2.64%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Albrightsville, PA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$54.1 $54.1
$44.63 $44.63
21.26%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$27.92 $27.92
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$17.74 $17.74
$20.39 $20.39
-13.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Albrightsville, PA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,652 $1,652
$2,637 $2,637
-37.37%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$31.1K $31.1K
$34.5K $34.5K
-10.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Albrightsville, PA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$66.1 $66.1
$68.8 $68.8
-3.91%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.2 $51.2
$77.5 $77.5
-33.91%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$100 $100
$122 $122
-17.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$141 $141
$121 $121
15.99%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Albrightsville, PA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,446 $2,446
$1,526 $1,526
60.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,678 $1,678
$1,474 $1,474
13.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,717 $4,717
$2,213 $2,213
113.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,795 $2,795
$2,163 $2,163
29.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,105 $4,105
$2,982 $2,982
37.67%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,650 $2,650
$2,150 $2,150
23.26%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Albrightsville, PA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,866 $4,866
$8,110 $8,110
-40.00%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.81
6.67
2.10%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 19, 2026

Last update for Albrightsville, PA: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
$1.7K
Albrightsville, PA
$1.5K 12.1% $204
Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
$449
Albrightsville, PA
$542 20.5% $92
Eating Out
Chicago, IL
$343
Albrightsville, PA
$342 0.4% $1.3
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
$322
Albrightsville, PA
$373 15.6% $50
Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
$161
Albrightsville, PA
$175 8.7% $14
Getting Around
Chicago, IL
$95
Albrightsville, PA
$21 * 78.4% $75
Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
$90
Albrightsville, PA
$85 4.7% $4.2

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,446 in Chicago, IL versus $1,526 in Albrightsville, PA. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 67% higher in Albrightsville, PA, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $90.0 in Chicago, IL versus $105 in Albrightsville, PA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $449 vs $542 – making Chicago, IL the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Chicago, IL
🇺🇸 Albrightsville, PA
🕒 Local time
22:09 10:09 PM
23:09 11:09 PM
1 h ahead of Chicago, IL
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,746,388
2,292
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Chicago, IL Albrightsville, PA 1,000 km ≈ 1 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Chicago, IL
  • Albrightsville, PA

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Albrightsville, PA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Albrightsville, PA cheaper than Chicago, IL?
Yes – Chicago, IL is pricier by about 4%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,708 per month in Chicago, IL and $4,518 in Albrightsville, PA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Albrightsville, PA, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Chicago, IL or in Albrightsville, PA?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $90.0 in Chicago, IL and $105 in Albrightsville, PA. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Chicago, IL and in Albrightsville, PA?
Interestingly, groceries are about 21% cheaper in Chicago, IL – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Is $2,500 enough to cover costs in Chicago, IL or in Albrightsville, PA?
$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,139 in Chicago, IL and $3,012 in Albrightsville, PA. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Is Chicago, IL or Albrightsville, PA more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Albrightsville, PA – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Chicago, IL or Albrightsville, PA?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Albrightsville, PA. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chicago, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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