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

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 43.9% more expensive than Arlington, WA without rent, and 27% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 37.4% more expensive than Arlington, WA without rent, and 32.5% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$16.48 $16.48

26.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$71.4 $71.4

40.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$12.71 $12.71

-5.82%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$5.22 $5.22

6.51%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.9 $2.9

7.24%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.98 $1.98

22.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$5.09 $5.09

34.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$11.76 $11.76

-28.15%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.1 $1.1

-5.45%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$4.16 $4.16

-0.24%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$4.88 $4.88

13.11%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$4.77 $4.77

-2.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$9.72 $9.72

47.43%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$8.25 $8.25

80.36%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$15.38 $15.38

25.75%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$2.82 $2.82

83.33%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.72 $1.72

-0.58%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$5.07 $5.07

-13.02%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$5.01 $5.01

-9.98%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$3.34 $3.34

-24.25%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.78 $2.78

-1.44%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.94 $1.94

25.26%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$2.89 $2.89

-6.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$10.78 $10.78

40.91%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$16.13 $16.13

1.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.76 $1.76

33.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$6.51 $6.51

-43.16%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.03 $2.03

24.63%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$2.62 $2.62

27.48%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$0.72 $0.72

97.22%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$29.55 $29.55

-13.98%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$1.06 $1.06

1.89%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$36.8K $36.8K

-11.87%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$24.4K $24.4K

7.40%

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

$188 $188

$214 $214

-12.14%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$50.9 $50.9

25.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$45.19 $45.19

44.28%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$32.97 $32.97

132.70%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$14.97 $14.97

-0.27%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$2,056 $2,056

0.31%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$31.1K $31.1K

25.94%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$38.08 $38.08

68.88%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$39.75 $39.75

31.80%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$73.4 $73.4

29.64%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$99.5 $99.5

45.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$1,293 $1,293

83.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,206 $1,206

31.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$2,529 $2,529

88.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$1,987 $1,987

41.64%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$2,728 $2,728

31.53%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$2,596 $2,596

-4.07%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$5,786 $5,786

-8.83%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

4.85

36.08%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Arlington, WA: October 28, 2025

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