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: $3,117 in Chicago, IL versus $3,327 in Astoria, NY.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,695 in Chicago, IL versus $4,660 in Astoria, NY.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,273 in Chicago, IL versus $5,993 in Astoria, NY.

Living in Chicago, IL costs roughly 6% less than in Astoria, NY, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 128% above, Astoria, NY 143% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.92 $19.92

$18.63 $18.63

6.92%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.5 $88.5

$79.5 $79.5

11.38%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.94 $12.94

$9.94 $9.94

30.18%

Cappuccino

$5.54 $5.54

$4.54 $4.54

22.03%

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

$2.74 $2.74

$1.69 $1.69

62.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 $2.36

$1.84 $1.84

28.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.12 $7.12

$4.86 $4.86

46.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.73 $8.73

$8.23 $8.23

6.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$1.14 $1.14

17.54%

White Bread (500g)

$4.17 $4.17

$3.95 $3.95

5.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.73 $5.73

$3.69 $3.69

55.28%

Eggs

$4.89 $4.89

$3.41 $3.41

43.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.77 $14.77

$16.49 $16.49

-10.43%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.85 $14.85

$8.80 $8.80

68.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.61 $19.61

$13.38 $13.38

46.56%

Apples (1kg)

$5.57 $5.57

$3.95 $3.95

41.01%

Banana (1kg)

$1.92 $1.92

$1.81 $1.81

6.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.17 $4.17

$2.60 $2.60

60.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.86 $4.86

$3.91 $3.91

24.30%

Potato (1kg)

$2.84 $2.84

$2.39 $2.39

18.83%

Onion (1kg)

$2.80 $2.80

$2.42 $2.42

15.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.20 $2.20

$2.02 $2.02

8.91%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.06 $3.06

$2.53 $2.53

20.95%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$16.16 $16.16

$15.26 $15.26

5.90%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.82 $14.82

$19.84 $19.84

-25.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.74 $1.74

45.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.35 $3.35

$3.29 $3.29

1.82%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.55 $2.55

$2.91 $2.91

-12.37%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.6 $75.6

$142 $142

-46.68%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.30 $3.30

$2.97 $2.97

11.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.36 $1.36

$2.22 $2.22

-38.74%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.12 $25.12

$41.35 $41.35

-39.25%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.17 $1.17

$0.94 $0.94

24.47%

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

$36.0K $36.0K

$35.3K $35.3K

2.00%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$24.8K $24.8K

5.59%

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

$191 $191

$114 $114

67.64%

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

$67.9 $67.9

$53.6 $53.6

26.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.7 $61.7

$50.7 $50.7

21.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.5 $63.5

$44.30 $44.30

43.27%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.14 $27.14

Cinema Ticket

$18.02 $18.02

$19.91 $19.91

-9.49%

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

$1,522 $1,522

$2,462 $2,462

-38.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.3K $31.3K

$34.7K $34.7K

-9.68%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.7 $63.7

$24.75 $24.75

157.29%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.3 $55.3

$19.67 $19.67

180.88%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100 $100

$29.44 $29.44

241.13%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$153 $153

$50.3 $50.3

204.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,406 $2,406

$2,318 $2,318

3.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,653 $1,653

$2,173 $2,173

-23.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,577 $4,577

$3,712 $3,712

23.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,771 $2,771

$3,216 $3,216

-13.83%

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

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.38

6.33

0.79%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: September 13, 2026

Last update for Astoria, NY: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,406 in Chicago, IL and $2,318 in Astoria, NY. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $88.0 in Chicago, IL vs $79.0 in Astoria, NY for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $464 vs $379 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 7% in total monthly costs ($3,117 vs $3,327 including rent). Chicago, IL is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $4,676 in Chicago, IL and $4,990 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: $2,406 in Chicago, IL versus $2,318 in Astoria, NY. 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 $3,327 in Astoria, NY – a 7% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Chicago, IL runs roughly 88% less than in Astoria, NY. 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 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 Chicago, IL gentler on the wallet – expenses run 7% less than in Astoria, NY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.