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

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 46.1% more expensive than Amherst, NY without rent, and 15.1% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 25.3% more expensive than Amherst, NY without rent, and 23.2% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$17.98 $17.98

15.80%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$85.7 $85.7

17.07%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$11.83 $11.83

1.18%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.21 $2.21

40.72%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.06 $2.06

17.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$6.85 $6.85

0.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$7.31 $7.31

15.60%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$0.94 $0.94

10.64%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$3.96 $3.96

4.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$4.87 $4.87

13.35%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$3.98 $3.98

16.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$12.99 $12.99

10.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$8.48 $8.48

75.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$12.25 $12.25

57.88%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$3.98 $3.98

29.90%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.21 $1.21

41.32%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$5.49 $5.49

-19.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$5.09 $5.09

-11.39%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.45 $2.45

3.27%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$3.67 $3.67

-25.34%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.5 $2.5

-2.80%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$2.5 $2.5

8.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$12.39 $12.39

22.60%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$15.19 $15.19

8.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.7 $1.7

38.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$4.71 $4.71

-21.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.04 $2.04

24.02%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$3.85 $3.85

-13.25%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.91 $1.91

-25.65%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$30.5 $30.5

-16.66%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.97 $0.97

11.34%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$28.4K $28.4K

13.98%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$23.9K $23.9K

9.85%

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

$188 $188

$230 $230

-18.28%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$46.31 $46.31

37.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$60.4 $60.4

7.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$42.56 $42.56

80.26%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

$19.74 $19.74

-33.99%

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$13.85 $13.85

7.80%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$902 $902

128.69%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$17.9K $17.9K

118.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$45.87 $45.87

40.20%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$46.48 $46.48

12.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$95.3 $95.3

-0.08%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$113 $113

28.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$1,601 $1,601

48.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,330 $1,330

19.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$2,650 $2,650

79.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$2,259 $2,259

24.61%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$3,200 $3,200

12.12%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$4,362 $4,362

-42.91%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.42

2.80%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Amherst, NY: October 28, 2025

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