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

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 42% more expensive than Allentown, PA without rent, and 13.5% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 17.8% more expensive than Allentown, PA without rent, and 25.9% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$19.62 $19.62

6.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$126 $126

-20.65%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$9.85 $9.85

21.52%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$6.12 $6.12

-9.15%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.41 $2.41

29.05%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.73 $1.73

39.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$5.1 $5.1

34.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$8.16 $8.16

3.55%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.19 $1.19

-12.61%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$2.12 $2.12

95.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$2.4 $2.4

130.00%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$3.19 $3.19

45.77%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$14.84 $14.84

-3.44%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$6.65 $6.65

123.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$19.93 $19.93

-2.96%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$7.44 $7.44

-30.51%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.48 $1.48

15.54%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$2.76 $2.76

59.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$6.22 $6.22

-27.49%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.54 $2.54

-0.39%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$3.2 $3.2

-14.37%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.26 $2.26

7.52%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$2.49 $2.49

8.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$10.14 $10.14

49.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$14.96 $14.96

9.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$2.33 $2.33

0.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$2.74 $2.74

35.04%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.29 $2.29

10.48%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

$59.6 $59.6

24.48%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$4.91 $4.91

-31.98%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$2.14 $2.14

-33.64%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$42.58 $42.58

-40.30%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.88 $0.88

22.73%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$29.4K $29.4K

10.15%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$26.1K $26.1K

0.42%

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

$188 $188

$155 $155

21.54%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$49.5 $49.5

28.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$62.2 $62.2

4.81%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$31.12 $31.12

146.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$11.38 $11.38

31.20%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$861 $861

139.58%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$11.4K $11.4K

244.15%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$36.25 $36.25

77.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$47.96 $47.96

9.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$73.2 $73.2

30.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$60.7 $60.7

138.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$1,525 $1,525

55.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,445 $1,445

9.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$2,496 $2,496

90.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$2,056 $2,056

36.89%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$2,698 $2,698

33.01%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$2,135 $2,135

16.62%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$2,971 $2,971

77.54%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.44

2.48%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Allentown, PA: October 27, 2025

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