Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Anchorage, AK Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Anchorage, AK

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,106 in Chicago, IL versus $3,239 in Anchorage, AK.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,599 in Chicago, IL versus $4,864 in Anchorage, AK.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,092 in Chicago, IL versus $6,490 in Anchorage, AK.

Living in Chicago, IL costs roughly 4% less than in Anchorage, AK, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 126% above, Anchorage, AK 136% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.86 $19.86

$22.69 $22.69

-12.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.3 $88.3

$101 $101

-12.87%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.23 $13.23

$15.16 $15.16

-12.73%

Cappuccino

$5.86 $5.86

$6.69 $6.69

-12.41%

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

$2.61 $2.61

$3.34 $3.34

-21.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 $2.32

$2.71 $2.71

-14.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.03 $7.03

$8.03 $8.03

-12.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.25 $9.25

$9.95 $9.95

-7.04%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$1.23 $1.23

8.94%

White Bread (500g)

$4.19 $4.19

$5.01 $5.01

-16.37%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.50 $5.50

$6.32 $6.32

-12.97%

Eggs

$4.71 $4.71

$4.35 $4.35

8.28%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.72 $14.72

$13.87 $13.87

6.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.53 $14.53

$12.78 $12.78

13.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.69 $19.69

$22.48 $22.48

-12.41%

Apples (1kg)

$5.64 $5.64

$8.39 $8.39

-32.78%

Banana (1kg)

$1.97 $1.97

$2.34 $2.34

-15.81%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.04 $4.04

$5.33 $5.33

-24.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.07 $5.07

$6.24 $6.24

-18.75%

Potato (1kg)

$2.94 $2.94

$2.86 $2.86

2.80%

Onion (1kg)

$2.92 $2.92

$3.50 $3.50

-16.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.28 $2.28

$2.73 $2.73

-16.48%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.12 $3.12

$2.61 $2.61

19.54%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$16.19 $16.19

$12.75 $12.75

26.98%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.17 $15.17

$17.62 $17.62

-13.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.67 $2.67

$1.72 $1.72

55.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.48 $3.48

$3.40 $3.40

2.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.54 $2.54

$2.03 $2.03

25.12%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$76.0 $76.0

$61.0 $61.0

24.56%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.16 $3.16

$2.72 $2.72

16.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.37 $1.37

$1.87 $1.87

-26.74%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.66 $22.66

$42.60 $42.60

-46.81%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 $1.20

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

$37.0K $37.0K

$33.1K $33.1K

11.85%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$25.9K $25.9K

0.74%

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

$190 $190

$431 $431

-56.07%

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

$68.5 $68.5

$90.4 $90.4

-24.21%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.1 $61.1

$140 $140

-56.54%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.8 $63.8

$90.5 $90.5

-29.49%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.80 $27.80

$40.36 $40.36

-31.12%

Cinema Ticket

$18.28 $18.28

$14.72 $14.72

24.18%

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

$1,525 $1,525

$1,239 $1,239

23.04%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$32.0K $32.0K

$10.4K $10.4K

207.43%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.0 $64.0

$48.17 $48.17

32.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.4 $54.4

$45.86 $45.86

18.62%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 $101

$113 $113

-10.90%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$153 $153

$121 $121

27.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,421 $2,421

$1,789 $1,789

35.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,690 $1,690

$1,386 $1,386

21.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,584 $4,584

$2,808 $2,808

63.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,782 $2,782

$2,416 $2,416

15.16%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,170 $4,170

$3,986 $3,986

4.59%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,739 $2,739

$2,789 $2,789

-1.79%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,777 $4,777

$4,568 $4,568

4.58%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.38

6.05

5.45%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: August 29, 2026

Last update for Anchorage, AK: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,421 in Chicago, IL and $1,789 in Anchorage, AK. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chicago, IL pays 5% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $88.0 in Chicago, IL vs $101 in Anchorage, AK for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $465 vs $495 per month, with Chicago, IL 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 Anchorage, AK: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chicago, IL wins on cost – living expenses run 4% lower than in Anchorage, AK. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Chicago, IL the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 5% higher in Chicago, IL, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,421 in Chicago, IL versus $1,789 in Anchorage, AK. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Chicago, IL – a meal for two runs $88.0 versus $101 in Anchorage, AK. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $3,106 per month in Chicago, IL versus $3,239 in Anchorage, AK – a 4% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Chicago, IL 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 Chicago, IL delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $3,106 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Chicago, IL hard to pass up.

Expats usually find Chicago, IL gentler on the wallet – expenses run 4% less than in Anchorage, AK. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.