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

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 27.8% more expensive than Auburn, WA without rent, and 13.8% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 43.1% more expensive than Auburn, WA without rent, and 32.5% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Auburn, WA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$17.34 $17.34
20.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$58.7 $58.7
71.05%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$10.09 $10.09
18.63%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$4.53 $4.53
22.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.53 $2.53
22.92%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$2.04 $2.04
18.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$4.79 $4.79
43.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$4.09 $4.09
106.60%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Auburn, WA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$0.95 $0.95
9.47%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$2.48 $2.48
67.34%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$3.86 $3.86
43.01%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$3.04 $3.04
52.96%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$8.58 $8.58
67.02%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$13.29 $13.29
11.96%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$16.72 $16.72
15.67%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$4.16 $4.16
24.28%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.44 $1.44
18.75%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$3.67 $3.67
20.16%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$3.73 $3.73
20.91%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.11 $2.11
19.91%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$2.15 $2.15
27.44%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$1.98 $1.98
22.73%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$1.74 $1.74
55.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$9.32 $9.32
62.98%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$12.94 $12.94
26.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.63 $1.63
44.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$2.95 $2.95
25.42%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Auburn, WA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.05 $2.05
23.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$3.56 $3.56
-6.18%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.87 $1.87
-24.06%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$39.85 $39.85
-36.21%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$1.04 $1.04
3.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$27.4K $27.4K
18.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$25.2K $25.2K
3.88%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Auburn, WA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$280 $280
-32.85%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$40.45 $40.45
57.48%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$76.5 $76.5
-14.72%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Auburn, WA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$42.42 $42.42
80.86%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$13.24 $13.24
12.76%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Auburn, WA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,301 $1,301
58.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$23.8K $23.8K
64.28%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Auburn, WA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$45.52 $45.52
41.28%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$52.3 $52.3
0.19%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$81.4 $81.4
16.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$81.4 $81.4
77.67%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Auburn, WA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,573 $1,573
51.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,401 $1,401
13.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$3,181 $3,181
49.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$2,217 $2,217
26.94%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$3,022 $3,022
18.71%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,777 $2,777
-10.33%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Auburn, WA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$8,058 $8,058
-34.53%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.55
0.76%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Auburn, WA: October 29, 2025

Join the CityCost newsletter โ€“ low traffic, no spam, and easy to unsubscribe. Your email stays private.