Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Astoria, NY Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Astoria, NY

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,077 in Chicago, IL versus $2,895 in Astoria, NY.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,628 in Chicago, IL versus $3,904 in Astoria, NY.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,179 in Chicago, IL versus $4,912 in Astoria, NY.

Living in Chicago, IL is roughly 6% more expensive than Astoria, NY, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 130% above, Astoria, NY 116% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.91 $20.91

$16.75 $16.75

24.84%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.1 $98.1

$59.2 $59.2

65.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.86 $11.86

$7.06 $7.06

67.99%

Cappuccino

$5.60 $5.60

$3.36 $3.36

66.67%

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

$3.07 $3.07

$1.79 $1.79

71.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$1.54 $1.54

60.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.14 $7.14

$4.93 $4.93

44.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.08 $8.08

$7.71 $7.71

4.80%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$1.11 $1.11

-5.41%

White Bread (500g)

$4.11 $4.11

$3.60 $3.60

14.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.61 $5.61

$2.33 $2.33

140.77%

Eggs

$4.51 $4.51

$2.95 $2.95

52.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.27 $14.27

$10.91 $10.91

30.80%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.89 $14.89

$7.89 $7.89

88.72%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.19 $19.19

$10.01 $10.01

91.71%

Apples (1kg)

$5.14 $5.14

$2.72 $2.72

88.97%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 $1.77

$1.81 $1.81

-2.21%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.39 $4.39

$2.99 $2.99

46.82%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.56 $4.56

$3.05 $3.05

49.51%

Potato (1kg)

$2.54 $2.54

$1.68 $1.68

51.19%

Onion (1kg)

$2.75 $2.75

$1.95 $1.95

41.03%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.54 $1.54

57.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$1.46 $1.46

79.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.92 $14.92

$14.72 $14.72

1.36%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.80 $14.80

$19.71 $19.71

-24.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$1.68 $1.68

46.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 $3.73

$3.52 $3.52

5.97%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.48 $2.48

$2.92 $2.92

-15.07%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.4 $75.4

$132 $132

-42.98%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.18 $3.18

$2.93 $2.93

8.53%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$2.22 $2.22

-36.04%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.94 $24.94

$42.29 $42.29

-41.03%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.06 $1.06

$0.91 $0.91

16.48%

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

$31.9K $31.9K

$25.1K $25.1K

27.22%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$24.0K $24.0K

8.55%

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

$185 $185

$101 $101

83.98%

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

$61.7 $61.7

$36.32 $36.32

69.99%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.9 $66.9

$29.88 $29.88

123.96%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.2 $75.2

$70.3 $70.3

6.91%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.08 $13.08

Cinema Ticket

$14.71 $14.71

$17.45 $17.45

-15.70%

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

$2,020 $2,020

$1,907 $1,907

5.93%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.4K $39.4K

$14.3K $14.3K

175.21%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.6 $64.6

$25.19 $25.19

156.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.5 $52.5

$20.36 $20.36

157.61%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.8 $97.8

$29.54 $29.54

231.14%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$148 $148

$50.3 $50.3

193.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,313 $2,313

$2,240 $2,240

3.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,590 $1,590

$1,830 $1,830

-13.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,608 $4,608

$3,741 $3,741

23.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,779 $2,779

$2,549 $2,549

8.99%

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

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.51

1.38%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: May 30, 2026

Last update for Astoria, NY: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,313 in Chicago, IL and $2,240 in Astoria, NY. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $98.0 in Chicago, IL vs $59.0 in Astoria, NY for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $447 vs $310 per month, with Astoria, NY 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 Astoria, NY: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chicago, IL and Astoria, NY differ by about 6% in total monthly costs ($3,077 vs $2,895 including rent). Astoria, NY is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $4,616 in Chicago, IL and $4,343 in Astoria, NY to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,313 in Chicago, IL versus $2,240 in Astoria, NY. 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 $2,895 in Astoria, NY – a 6% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Astoria, NY runs roughly 75% less than in Chicago, IL. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Astoria, NY is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

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.

Safety-wise, Chicago, IL and Astoria, NY are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Astoria, NY gentler on the wallet – expenses run 6% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.