Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Annapolis, MD Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Annapolis, MD

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,117 in Chicago, IL versus $3,391 in Annapolis, MD.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,695 in Chicago, IL versus $4,788 in Annapolis, MD.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,273 in Chicago, IL versus $6,184 in Annapolis, MD.

Living in Chicago, IL costs roughly 8% less than in Annapolis, MD, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 128% above, Annapolis, MD 148% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.92 $19.92

$30.56 $30.56

-34.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.5 $88.5

$80.5 $80.5

9.91%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.94 $12.94

$9.95 $9.95

30.05%

Cappuccino

$5.54 $5.54

$5.75 $5.75

-3.65%

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

$2.74 $2.74

$2.68 $2.68

2.24%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 $2.36

$1.99 $1.99

18.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.12 $7.12

$6.84 $6.84

4.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.73 $8.73

$8.96 $8.96

-2.57%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$1.09 $1.09

22.94%

White Bread (500g)

$4.17 $4.17

$3.35 $3.35

24.48%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.73 $5.73

$5.49 $5.49

4.37%

Eggs

$4.89 $4.89

$6.41 $6.41

-23.71%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.77 $14.77

$10.58 $10.58

39.60%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.85 $14.85

$10.40 $10.40

42.79%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.61 $19.61

$14.90 $14.90

31.61%

Apples (1kg)

$5.57 $5.57

$6.01 $6.01

-7.32%

Banana (1kg)

$1.92 $1.92

$2.14 $2.14

-10.28%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.17 $4.17

$6.83 $6.83

-38.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.86 $4.86

$7.51 $7.51

-35.29%

Potato (1kg)

$2.84 $2.84

$7.76 $7.76

-63.40%

Onion (1kg)

$2.80 $2.80

$4.59 $4.59

-39.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.20 $2.20

$3.34 $3.34

-34.13%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.06 $3.06

$2.20 $2.20

39.09%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$16.16 $16.16

$9.02 $9.02

79.16%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.82 $14.82

$15.06 $15.06

-1.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.72 $1.72

47.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.35 $3.35

$3.69 $3.69

-9.21%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.55 $2.55

$4.04 $4.04

-36.88%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.6 $75.6

$140 $140

-46.19%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.30 $3.30

$3.29 $3.29

0.30%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.36 $1.36

$1.59 $1.59

-14.47%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.12 $25.12

$30.24 $30.24

-16.93%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.17 $1.17

$0.95 $0.95

23.16%

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

$36.0K $36.0K

$32.6K $32.6K

10.50%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$25.3K $25.3K

3.80%

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

$191 $191

$207 $207

-7.64%

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

$67.9 $67.9

$52.5 $52.5

29.49%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.7 $61.7

$96.4 $96.4

-35.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.5 $63.5

$66.9 $66.9

-5.13%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.14 $27.14

Cinema Ticket

$18.02 $18.02

$13.74 $13.74

31.15%

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

$1,522 $1,522

$1,657 $1,657

-8.15%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.3K $31.3K

$19.3K $19.3K

62.45%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.7 $63.7

$47.51 $47.51

34.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.3 $55.3

$20.26 $20.26

172.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100 $100

$90.2 $90.2

11.35%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$153 $153

$120 $120

27.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,406 $2,406

$2,076 $2,076

15.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,653 $1,653

$1,814 $1,814

-8.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,577 $4,577

$3,871 $3,871

18.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,771 $2,771

$2,837 $2,837

-2.32%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,031 $4,031

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,745 $2,745

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,804 $4,804

$5,491 $5,491

-12.50%

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: September 13, 2026

Last update for Annapolis, MD: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,406 in Chicago, IL and $2,076 in Annapolis, MD. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Annapolis, MD pays 14% 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: $88.0 in Chicago, IL vs $81.0 in Annapolis, MD for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $464 vs $446 per month, with Annapolis, MD 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 Annapolis, MD: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

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

On paper, salaries run 14% lower in Annapolis, MD. 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: $2,406 in Chicago, IL versus $2,076 in Annapolis, MD. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $3,117 per month in Chicago, IL versus $3,391 in Annapolis, MD – a 9% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Chicago, IL runs roughly 86% less than in Annapolis, MD. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

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 $3,117 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 9% less than in Annapolis, MD. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.