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: $3,077 in Chicago, IL versus $3,440 in Annapolis, MD.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,628 in Chicago, IL versus $4,797 in Annapolis, MD.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,179 in Chicago, IL versus $6,154 in Annapolis, MD.

Living in Chicago, IL costs roughly 11% less than in Annapolis, MD, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 130% above, Annapolis, MD 157% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.91 $20.91

$30.48 $30.48

-31.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.1 $98.1

$79.3 $79.3

23.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.86 $11.86

$10.13 $10.13

17.08%

Cappuccino

$5.60 $5.60

$5.34 $5.34

4.87%

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

$3.07 $3.07

$2.67 $2.67

14.98%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$1.83 $1.83

34.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.14 $7.14

$6.46 $6.46

10.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.08 $8.08

$8.77 $8.77

-7.87%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$1.06 $1.06

-0.94%

White Bread (500g)

$4.11 $4.11

$3.44 $3.44

19.48%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.61 $5.61

Eggs

$4.51 $4.51

$4.38 $4.38

2.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.27 $14.27

$10.45 $10.45

36.56%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.89 $14.89

$10.48 $10.48

42.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.19 $19.19

$14.89 $14.89

28.88%

Apples (1kg)

$5.14 $5.14

$6.19 $6.19

-16.96%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 $1.77

$2.17 $2.17

-18.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.39 $4.39

$6.78 $6.78

-35.25%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.56 $4.56

$7.26 $7.26

-37.19%

Potato (1kg)

$2.54 $2.54

$4.77 $4.77

-46.75%

Onion (1kg)

$2.75 $2.75

$4.62 $4.62

-40.48%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.39 $2.39

1.26%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$2.18 $2.18

20.18%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.92 $14.92

$9.82 $9.82

51.93%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.80 $14.80

$14.71 $14.71

0.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$1.75 $1.75

40.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 $3.73

$3.82 $3.82

-2.36%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.48 $2.48

$3.92 $3.92

-36.73%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.4 $75.4

$139 $139

-45.72%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.18 $3.18

$3.24 $3.24

-1.85%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.57 $1.57

-9.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.94 $24.94

$29.44 $29.44

-15.29%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.06 $1.06

$0.82 $0.82

29.27%

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

$31.9K $31.9K

$26.0K $26.0K

22.82%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$24.2K $24.2K

7.63%

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

$185 $185

$202 $202

-8.63%

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

$61.7 $61.7

$53.8 $53.8

14.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.9 $66.9

0.10%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.2 $75.2

$54.7 $54.7

37.32%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.08 $13.08

Cinema Ticket

$14.71 $14.71

$13.43 $13.43

9.53%

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

$2,020 $2,020

$1,692 $1,692

19.38%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.4K $39.4K

$19.6K $19.6K

101.14%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.6 $64.6

$46.90 $46.90

37.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.5 $52.5

$19.74 $19.74

165.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.8 $97.8

$90.2 $90.2

8.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$148 $148

$122 $122

20.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,313 $2,313

$2,804 $2,804

-17.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,590 $1,590

$1,891 $1,891

-15.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,608 $4,608

$3,864 $3,864

19.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,779 $2,779

$2,745 $2,745

1.24%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,922 $3,922

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,613 $2,613

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,217 $5,217

$5,526 $5,526

-5.59%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.18

6.80%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: May 30, 2026

Last update for Annapolis, MD: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,313 in Chicago, IL and $2,804 in Annapolis, MD. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Annapolis, MD pays 6% 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 $79.0 in Annapolis, MD for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $447 vs $426 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 12% 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, Annapolis, MD earns 6% less. 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: $2,313 in Chicago, IL versus $2,804 in Annapolis, MD. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $3,077 per month in Chicago, IL versus $3,440 in Annapolis, MD – a 12% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Chicago, IL runs roughly 84% 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 $3,077 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 12% less than in Annapolis, MD. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.