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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,184 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,655 in Allentown, PA, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,725 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,798 in Allentown, PA, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,266 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,942 in Allentown, PA, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 20% more than Allentown, PA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chicago, IL and Allentown, PA sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 131%, Allentown, PA by 93%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.26 $20.26

$19.65 $19.65

3.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.8 $88.8

$91.1 $91.1

-2.56%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.16 $13.16

$11.87 $11.87

10.87%

Cappuccino

$5.77 $5.77

$5.91 $5.91

-2.37%

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

$2.63 $2.63

$2.65 $2.65

-0.75%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 $2.34

$1.60 $1.60

46.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.06 $7.06

$4.93 $4.93

43.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.18 $9.18

$5.87 $5.87

56.39%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.30 $1.30

$1.15 $1.15

13.04%

White Bread (500g)

$4.05 $4.05

$2.21 $2.21

83.26%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.69 $5.69

$2.52 $2.52

125.79%

Eggs

$4.85 $4.85

$3.59 $3.59

35.10%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.08 $15.08

$15.50 $15.50

-2.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.87 $14.87

$8.32 $8.32

78.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.28 $19.28

$17.82 $17.82

8.19%

Apples (1kg)

$5.68 $5.68

$6.04 $6.04

-5.96%

Banana (1kg)

$1.93 $1.93

$1.68 $1.68

14.88%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.10 $4.10

$2.89 $2.89

41.87%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.11 $5.11

$6.40 $6.40

-20.16%

Potato (1kg)

$2.92 $2.92

$2.61 $2.61

11.88%

Onion (1kg)

$2.77 $2.77

$3.23 $3.23

-14.24%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.30 $2.30

$2.24 $2.24

2.68%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.04 $3.04

$2.55 $2.55

19.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.93 $15.93

$11.59 $11.59

37.45%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.06 $15.06

$14.86 $14.86

1.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.22 $2.22

13.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.48 $3.48

$2.72 $2.72

27.94%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.21 $2.21

14.48%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.8 $74.8

$60.0 $60.0

24.64%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.28 $3.28

$3.06 $3.06

7.19%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.36 $1.36

$2.17 $2.17

-37.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.55 $22.55

$42.42 $42.42

-46.84%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 $1.22

$1.05 $1.05

16.19%

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

$36.1K $36.1K

$34.8K $34.8K

3.78%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$25.3K $25.3K

2.53%

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

$188 $188

$190 $190

-1.05%

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

$69.0 $69.0

$54.0 $54.0

27.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.6 $63.6

$71.3 $71.3

-10.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.4 $63.4

$31.95 $31.95

98.56%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.11 $27.11

$25.10 $25.10

8.01%

Cinema Ticket

$17.90 $17.90

$12.95 $12.95

38.22%

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

$1,526 $1,526

$1,201 $1,201

27.13%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.9K $31.9K

$12.2K $12.2K

160.70%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.1 $62.1

$38.70 $38.70

60.39%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$56.4 $56.4

$53.5 $53.5

5.30%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 $101

$87.5 $87.5

15.27%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$156 $156

$118 $118

31.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,342 $2,342

$1,577 $1,577

48.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,698 $1,698

$1,378 $1,378

23.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,576 $4,576

$2,305 $2,305

98.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,806 $2,806

$2,039 $2,039

37.60%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,130 $4,130

$2,613 $2,613

58.04%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,740 $2,740

$2,150 $2,150

27.41%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,891 $4,891

$2,895 $2,895

68.92%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.38

6.3

1.27%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: September 6, 2026

Last update for Allentown, PA: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,342 in Chicago, IL versus $1,577 in Allentown, 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 69% higher in Chicago, IL, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89.0 in Chicago, IL versus $91.0 in Allentown, PA. Groceries tell a different story – $465 in Chicago, IL vs $384 in Allentown, PA – so Allentown, PA wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Allentown, PA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chicago, IL costs about 20% more than Allentown, PA, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,776 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,982 in Allentown, PA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Allentown, PA, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 25% less in Allentown, PA. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $1,526 per month in Chicago, IL and $1,201 in Allentown, PA. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,184 in Chicago, IL and $2,655 in Allentown, PA. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Allentown, PA costs $2,655 versus $3,184 in Chicago, IL. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

If budget matters most, go with Allentown, 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.