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: $3,077 in Chicago, IL versus $2,826 in Anchorage, AK.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,628 in Chicago, IL versus $4,331 in Anchorage, AK.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,179 in Chicago, IL versus $5,836 in Anchorage, AK.

Living in Chicago, IL is roughly 9% more expensive than Anchorage, AK, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 130% above, Anchorage, AK 111% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.91 $20.91

$25.43 $25.43

-17.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.1 $98.1

$99.4 $99.4

-1.31%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.86 $11.86

$12.86 $12.86

-7.78%

Cappuccino

$5.60 $5.60

$5.28 $5.28

6.06%

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

$3.07 $3.07

$2.68 $2.68

14.55%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.67 $2.67

-7.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.14 $7.14

$7.85 $7.85

-9.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.08 $8.08

$7.35 $7.35

9.93%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$1.07 $1.07

-1.87%

White Bread (500g)

$4.11 $4.11

$4.14 $4.14

-0.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.61 $5.61

$4.53 $4.53

23.84%

Eggs

$4.51 $4.51

$3.48 $3.48

29.60%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.27 $14.27

$12.42 $12.42

14.90%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.89 $14.89

$12.51 $12.51

19.02%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.19 $19.19

$20.54 $20.54

-6.57%

Apples (1kg)

$5.14 $5.14

$7.75 $7.75

-33.68%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 $1.77

$1.93 $1.93

-8.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.39 $4.39

$6.47 $6.47

-32.15%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.56 $4.56

$7.31 $7.31

-37.62%

Potato (1kg)

$2.54 $2.54

$2.44 $2.44

4.10%

Onion (1kg)

$2.75 $2.75

$2.97 $2.97

-7.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.83 $2.83

-14.49%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$2.18 $2.18

20.18%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.92 $14.92

$11.28 $11.28

32.27%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.80 $14.80

$16.68 $16.68

-11.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$1.72 $1.72

43.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 $3.73

$3.76 $3.76

-0.80%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.48 $2.48

$2.02 $2.02

22.77%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.4 $75.4

$60.6 $60.6

24.45%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.18 $3.18

$2.78 $2.78

14.39%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.67 $1.67

-14.97%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.94 $24.94

$37.86 $37.86

-34.13%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.06 $1.06

$1.01 $1.01

4.95%

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

$31.9K $31.9K

$33.1K $33.1K

-3.55%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$26.1K $26.1K

-0.40%

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

$185 $185

$288 $288

-35.82%

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

$61.7 $61.7

$53.5 $53.5

15.45%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.9 $66.9

$129 $129

-47.93%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.2 $75.2

$82.5 $82.5

-8.85%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.08 $13.08

$40.47 $40.47

-67.68%

Cinema Ticket

$14.71 $14.71

$13.44 $13.44

9.45%

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

$2,020 $2,020

$953 $953

112.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.4K $39.4K

$10.5K $10.5K

275.22%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.6 $64.6

$49.76 $49.76

29.84%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.5 $52.5

$45.08 $45.08

16.35%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.8 $97.8

$100 $100

-2.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$148 $148

$122 $122

20.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,313 $2,313

$1,474 $1,474

56.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,590 $1,590

$1,225 $1,225

29.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,608 $4,608

$2,508 $2,508

83.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,779 $2,779

$2,239 $2,239

24.09%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,922 $3,922

$4,118 $4,118

-4.76%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,613 $2,613

$2,882 $2,882

-9.36%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,217 $5,217

$4,643 $4,643

12.36%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.46

2.17%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: May 30, 2026

Last update for Anchorage, AK: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,313 in Chicago, IL and $1,474 in Anchorage, AK. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chicago, IL pays 12% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $98.0 in Chicago, IL vs $99.0 in Anchorage, AK for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $447 vs $459 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

Anchorage, AK wins on cost – living expenses run 9% lower than in Chicago, IL. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Anchorage, AK the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Chicago, IL pays 12% more on average, 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: $2,313 in Chicago, IL versus $1,474 in Anchorage, AK. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Anchorage, AK – a meal for two runs $99.0 versus $98.0 in Chicago, IL. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $3,077 per month in Chicago, IL versus $2,826 in Anchorage, AK – a 9% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Anchorage, AK 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 Anchorage, AK delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,826 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Anchorage, AK hard to pass up.

Expats usually find Anchorage, AK gentler on the wallet – expenses run 9% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.