Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Anacortes, WA Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Anacortes, WA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,184 in Chicago, IL versus $2,521 in Anacortes, WA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,725 in Chicago, IL versus $3,660 in Anacortes, WA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,266 in Chicago, IL versus $4,799 in Anacortes, WA.

Living in Chicago, IL is roughly 26% more expensive than in Anacortes, WA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 131% above, Anacortes, WA 83% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.26 $20.26

$17.81 $17.81

13.76%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.8 $88.8

$80.6 $80.6

10.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.16 $13.16

$11.93 $11.93

10.31%

Cappuccino

$5.77 $5.77

$5.22 $5.22

10.54%

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

$2.63 $2.63

$2.29 $2.29

14.85%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 $2.34

$1.98 $1.98

18.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.06 $7.06

$5.44 $5.44

29.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.18 $9.18

$6.08 $6.08

50.99%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.30 $1.30

$1.14 $1.14

14.04%

White Bread (500g)

$4.05 $4.05

$4.12 $4.12

-1.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.69 $5.69

$1.78 $1.78

219.66%

Eggs

$4.85 $4.85

$4.03 $4.03

20.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.08 $15.08

$10.92 $10.92

38.10%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.87 $14.87

$14.05 $14.05

5.84%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.28 $19.28

$22.86 $22.86

-15.66%

Apples (1kg)

$5.68 $5.68

$4.89 $4.89

16.16%

Banana (1kg)

$1.93 $1.93

$1.77 $1.77

9.04%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.10 $4.10

$3.08 $3.08

33.12%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.11 $5.11

$4.55 $4.55

12.31%

Potato (1kg)

$2.92 $2.92

$1.44 $1.44

102.78%

Onion (1kg)

$2.77 $2.77

$3.06 $3.06

-9.48%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.30 $2.30

$1.51 $1.51

52.32%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.04 $3.04

$2.36 $2.36

28.81%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.93 $15.93

$12.03 $12.03

32.42%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.06 $15.06

$14.39 $14.39

4.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.72 $1.72

47.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.48 $3.48

$4.14 $4.14

-15.94%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$5.32 $5.32

-52.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.8 $74.8

$22.14 $22.14

237.67%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.28 $3.28

$2.66 $2.66

23.31%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.36 $1.36

$1.71 $1.71

-20.47%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.55 $22.55

$29.56 $29.56

-23.71%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 $1.22

$1.27 $1.27

-3.94%

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

$36.1K $36.1K

$36.6K $36.6K

-1.43%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$27.7K $27.7K

-6.21%

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

$188 $188

$173 $173

8.67%

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

$69.0 $69.0

$51.0 $51.0

35.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.6 $63.6

$76.1 $76.1

-16.52%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.4 $63.4

$50.1 $50.1

26.73%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.11 $27.11

Cinema Ticket

$17.90 $17.90

$17.10 $17.10

4.68%

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

$1,526 $1,526

$2,084 $2,084

-26.76%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.9K $31.9K

-0.16%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.1 $62.1

$54.0 $54.0

14.99%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$56.4 $56.4

$27.74 $27.74

103.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 $101

$84.1 $84.1

19.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$156 $156

$130 $130

20.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,342 $2,342

$1,798 $1,798

30.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,698 $1,698

$1,186 $1,186

43.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,576 $4,576

$3,000 $3,000

52.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,806 $2,806

$2,009 $2,009

39.67%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,130 $4,130

$2,638 $2,638

56.58%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,740 $2,740

$2,472 $2,472

10.82%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,891 $4,891

$6,925 $6,925

-29.38%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.38

3.75

70.13%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: September 6, 2026

Last update for Anacortes, WA: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,342 in Chicago, IL and $1,798 in Anacortes, WA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Anacortes, WA pays 42% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $89.0 in Chicago, IL vs $81.0 in Anacortes, WA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $465 vs $408 per month, with Anacortes, WA cheaper across the board.

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 Anacortes, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Anacortes, WA wins on cost – living expenses run 26% lower than in Chicago, IL. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Anacortes, WA the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 42% lower in Anacortes, WA. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,342 in Chicago, IL versus $1,798 in Anacortes, WA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Anacortes, WA – a meal for two runs $81.0 versus $89.0 in Chicago, IL. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $3,184 per month in Chicago, IL versus $2,521 in Anacortes, WA – a 26% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Anacortes, WA is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

Both work as nomad bases, but Anacortes, WA delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,521 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Anacortes, WA hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Chicago, IL and Anacortes, WA are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Anacortes, WA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 26% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.