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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,068 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,640 in Amherst, NY, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,648 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,789 in Amherst, NY, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,229 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,938 in Amherst, NY, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 16% more than Amherst, NY, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Chicago, IL and Amherst, NY sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 130%, Amherst, NY by 98%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.17 $20.17

$17.90 $17.90

12.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.5 $99.5

$86.7 $86.7

14.74%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.23 $12.23

$12.02 $12.02

1.75%

Cappuccino

$5.60 $5.60

$5.46 $5.46

2.56%

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

$3.12 $3.12

$2.16 $2.16

44.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.98 $1.98

22.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.93 $6.93

$6.88 $6.88

0.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.20 $8.20

$7.69 $7.69

6.63%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$1.01 $1.01

6.93%

White Bread (500g)

$3.97 $3.97

$3.96 $3.96

0.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.58 $5.58

$4.71 $4.71

18.47%

Eggs

$4.47 $4.47

$4.05 $4.05

10.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.50 $14.50

$12.95 $12.95

11.97%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.08 $15.08

$8.62 $8.62

74.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$11.79 $11.79

64.04%

Apples (1kg)

$5.37 $5.37

$3.86 $3.86

39.12%

Banana (1kg)

$1.76 $1.76

$1.22 $1.22

44.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.32 $4.32

$5.21 $5.21

-17.08%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$4.95 $4.95

-10.91%

Potato (1kg)

$2.54 $2.54

$2.59 $2.59

-1.93%

Onion (1kg)

$2.70 $2.70

$3.52 $3.52

-23.30%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.49 $2.49

$2.38 $2.38

4.62%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.60 $2.60

$2.51 $2.51

3.59%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.80 $14.80

$12.71 $12.71

16.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.18 $15.18

$15.13 $15.13

0.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$1.70 $1.70

45.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.60 $3.60

$4.64 $4.64

-22.41%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.54 $2.54

$1.97 $1.97

28.93%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$76.3 $76.3

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.30 $3.30

$3.83 $3.83

-13.84%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.38 $1.38

$1.81 $1.81

-23.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.36 $25.36

$30.25 $30.25

-16.17%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.97 $0.97

12.37%

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

$31.6K $31.6K

$28.0K $28.0K

12.88%

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

$26.6K $26.6K

$24.5K $24.5K

8.30%

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

$186 $186

$232 $232

-19.89%

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

$62.9 $62.9

$46.59 $46.59

34.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.2 $66.2

$61.3 $61.3

7.94%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$77.6 $77.6

$42.74 $42.74

81.61%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.16 $13.16

$19.79 $19.79

-33.50%

Cinema Ticket

$14.74 $14.74

$14.24 $14.24

3.51%

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

$2,039 $2,039

$902 $902

125.98%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.9K $39.9K

$17.8K $17.8K

123.33%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.9 $63.9

$45.16 $45.16

41.39%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.2 $51.2

$45.67 $45.67

12.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$95.9 $95.9

-0.69%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$144 $144

$114 $114

26.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,305 $2,305

$1,584 $1,584

45.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,575 $1,575

$1,336 $1,336

17.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,688 $4,688

$2,640 $2,640

77.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,737 $2,737

$2,237 $2,237

22.39%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,063 $4,063

$2,657 $2,657

52.95%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,696 $2,696

$2,390 $2,390

12.81%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,019 $5,019

$4,085 $4,085

22.86%

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: July 11, 2026

Last update for Amherst, NY: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,305 in Chicago, IL versus $1,584 in Amherst, NY. 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 23% 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 $99.0 in Chicago, IL versus $87.0 in Amherst, NY. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $448 vs $377 – making Amherst, NY the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Amherst, NY: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chicago, IL costs about 16% more than Amherst, NY, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,602 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,960 in Amherst, NY. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $99.0 in Chicago, IL and $87.0 in Amherst, NY. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 19% more in Chicago, IL, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,068 in Chicago, IL and $2,640 in Amherst, NY. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Amherst, NY costs $2,640 versus $3,068 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 Amherst, NY. 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.