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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,111 in Chicago, IL versus $2,633 in Astoria, OR.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,680 in Chicago, IL versus $3,791 in Astoria, OR.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,249 in Chicago, IL versus $4,949 in Astoria, OR.

Living in Chicago, IL is roughly 18% more expensive than Astoria, OR, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 131% above, Astoria, OR 96% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.39 $20.39

$17.65 $17.65

15.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.2 $98.2

$79.7 $79.7

23.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.07 $12.07

$7.86 $7.86

53.56%

Cappuccino

$5.73 $5.73

$4.55 $4.55

25.93%

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

$2.97 $2.97

$2.03 $2.03

46.31%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$0.99 $0.99

149.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.99 $6.99

$4.71 $4.71

48.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.21 $8.21

$4.09 $4.09

100.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$1.09 $1.09

-3.67%

White Bread (500g)

$4.08 $4.08

$3.79 $3.79

7.65%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.50 $5.50

$3.74 $3.74

47.06%

Eggs

$4.64 $4.64

$4.76 $4.76

-2.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.40 $14.40

$15.47 $15.47

-6.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.20 $15.20

$12.84 $12.84

18.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.28 $19.28

$16.91 $16.91

14.02%

Apples (1kg)

$5.14 $5.14

$4.23 $4.23

21.51%

Banana (1kg)

$1.76 $1.76

$1.50 $1.50

17.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.34 $4.34

$3.71 $3.71

16.98%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.36 $4.36

$3.84 $3.84

13.54%

Potato (1kg)

$2.44 $2.44

$2.11 $2.11

15.64%

Onion (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$2.07 $2.07

34.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.52 $2.52

$1.98 $1.98

27.27%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.66 $2.66

$1.75 $1.75

52.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.90 $14.90

$10.44 $10.44

42.72%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.97 $14.97

$14.82 $14.82

1.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.45 $2.45

$1.62 $1.62

51.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.54 $3.54

$2.91 $2.91

21.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.98 $1.98

22.73%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.5 $74.5

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.32 $3.32

$3.57 $3.57

-7.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.38 $1.38

$1.57 $1.57

-12.10%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.11 $25.11

$40.56 $40.56

-38.09%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.99 $0.99

10.10%

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

$31.9K $31.9K

$27.5K $27.5K

15.94%

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

$26.8K $26.8K

$25.5K $25.5K

5.33%

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

$187 $187

$279 $279

-32.91%

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

$63.5 $63.5

$54.7 $54.7

15.91%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.5 $65.5

$75.9 $75.9

-13.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.7 $75.7

$43.67 $43.67

73.32%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.05 $13.05

Cinema Ticket

$14.80 $14.80

$13.16 $13.16

12.46%

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

$2,025 $2,025

$1,314 $1,314

54.09%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.0K $39.0K

$23.8K $23.8K

63.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.2 $64.2

$45.97 $45.97

39.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.7 $51.7

$52.2 $52.2

-0.88%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.6 $95.6

$86.7 $86.7

10.26%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$79.1 $79.1

83.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,326 $2,326

$1,581 $1,581

47.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,611 $1,611

$1,375 $1,375

17.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,703 $4,703

$2,186 $2,186

115.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,721 $2,721

$2,248 $2,248

21.05%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,829 $3,829

$2,516 $2,516

52.21%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,533 $2,533

$2,576 $2,576

-1.70%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,100 $5,100

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.55

0.76%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: June 7, 2026

Last update for Astoria, OR: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,326 in Chicago, IL and $1,581 in Astoria, OR. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $98.0 in Chicago, IL vs $80.0 in Astoria, OR for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $448 vs $391 per month, with Astoria, OR 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, OR: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chicago, IL and Astoria, OR differ by about 18% in total monthly costs ($3,111 vs $2,633 including rent). Astoria, OR is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $4,666 in Chicago, IL and $3,949 in Astoria, OR 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: $2,326 in Chicago, IL versus $1,581 in Astoria, OR. 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 $2,633 in Astoria, OR – a 18% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Astoria, OR 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.

Expats usually find Astoria, OR gentler on the wallet – expenses run 18% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.