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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,111 in Chicago, IL versus $2,419 in Arlington, WA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,680 in Chicago, IL versus $3,562 in Arlington, WA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,249 in Chicago, IL versus $4,706 in Arlington, WA.

Living in Chicago, IL is roughly 29% more expensive than Arlington, WA, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 131% above, Arlington, WA 80% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.39 $20.39

$16.38 $16.38

24.48%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.2 $98.2

$73.2 $73.2

34.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.07 $12.07

$12.39 $12.39

-2.58%

Cappuccino

$5.73 $5.73

$5.26 $5.26

8.94%

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

$2.97 $2.97

$2.89 $2.89

2.77%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.01 $2.01

22.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.99 $6.99

$4.93 $4.93

41.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.21 $8.21

$11.81 $11.81

-30.48%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

White Bread (500g)

$4.08 $4.08

$4.13 $4.13

-1.21%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.50 $5.50

$4.95 $4.95

11.11%

Eggs

$4.64 $4.64

$4.97 $4.97

-6.64%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.40 $14.40

$9.72 $9.72

48.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.20 $15.20

$8.18 $8.18

85.82%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.28 $19.28

$15.48 $15.48

24.55%

Apples (1kg)

$5.14 $5.14

$2.69 $2.69

91.08%

Banana (1kg)

$1.76 $1.76

$1.68 $1.68

4.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.34 $4.34

$4.88 $4.88

-11.07%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.36 $4.36

$4.86 $4.86

-10.29%

Potato (1kg)

$2.44 $2.44

$3.26 $3.26

-25.15%

Onion (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$2.80 $2.80

-0.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.52 $2.52

$1.90 $1.90

32.63%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.66 $2.66

$2.90 $2.90

-8.28%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.90 $14.90

$11.09 $11.09

34.36%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.97 $14.97

$18.62 $18.62

-19.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.45 $2.45

$1.69 $1.69

44.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.54 $3.54

$6.30 $6.30

-43.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.97 $1.97

23.35%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.5 $74.5

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.32 $3.32

$2.54 $2.54

30.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.38 $1.38

$0.78 $0.78

76.92%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.11 $25.11

$29.58 $29.58

-15.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$1.07 $1.07

1.87%

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

$31.9K $31.9K

$36.9K $36.9K

-13.79%

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

$26.8K $26.8K

$24.2K $24.2K

10.73%

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

$187 $187

$214 $214

-12.61%

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

$63.5 $63.5

$50.5 $50.5

25.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.5 $65.5

$44.73 $44.73

46.41%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.7 $75.7

$33.39 $33.39

126.68%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.05 $13.05

Cinema Ticket

$14.80 $14.80

$14.86 $14.86

-0.40%

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

$2,025 $2,025

$2,086 $2,086

-2.92%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.0K $39.0K

$31.2K $31.2K

24.85%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.2 $64.2

$38.08 $38.08

68.46%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.7 $51.7

$39.56 $39.56

30.76%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.6 $95.6

$72.3 $72.3

32.17%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$100 $100

44.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,326 $2,326

$1,308 $1,308

77.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,611 $1,611

$1,193 $1,193

35.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,703 $4,703

$2,521 $2,521

86.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,721 $2,721

$1,973 $1,973

37.90%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,829 $3,829

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,533 $2,533

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,100 $5,100

$5,757 $5,757

-11.41%

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Arlington, WA: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,326 in Chicago, IL and $1,308 in Arlington, WA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Arlington, WA pays 13% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $98.0 in Chicago, IL vs $73.0 in Arlington, WA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $448 vs $391 per month, with Arlington, WA 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 Arlington, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chicago, IL and Arlington, WA differ by about 29% in total monthly costs ($3,111 vs $2,419 including rent). Arlington, WA is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Arlington, WA earns 13% 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: $2,326 in Chicago, IL versus $1,308 in Arlington, WA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 15% higher in Chicago, IL. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $3,111 per month in Chicago, IL versus $2,419 in Arlington, WA – a 29% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,419 in Arlington, WA versus $3,111 in Chicago, IL, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Arlington, WA but tight or insufficient in Chicago, IL. The gap between the two cities makes Arlington, WA the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Arlington, WA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 29% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.