Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Auburn, WA: $2,589 a month against $3,139 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $6,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

152

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
Learn more

Chicago, IL Living Index
126

Cost of Living Index in Auburn, WA
Learn more

Auburn, WA Living Index

Jump to prices

Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,139

/mo nomad

Auburn, WA

🇺🇸 United States

$2,589

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chicago, IL and in Auburn, WA

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chicago, IL and in Auburn, WA actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,139 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,589 in Auburn, WA, rent included.

Chicago, IL $3,139
Auburn, WA $2,589

A couple spends around $4,627 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,092 in Auburn, WA, rent included.

Chicago, IL $4,627
Auburn, WA $4,092

A family of three spends $6,115 per month in Chicago, IL vs $5,595 in Auburn, WA, rent included.

Chicago, IL $6,115
Auburn, WA $5,595

Chicago, IL costs about 21% more than Auburn, WA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both Chicago, IL and Auburn, WA sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 132%, Auburn, WA by 91%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.65 $20.65

$19.69 $19.69

4.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$90.2 $90.2

$96.2 $96.2

-6.21%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.94 $12.94

$11.71 $11.71

10.50%

Cappuccino

$5.60 $5.60

$4.46 $4.46

25.56%

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

$2.64 $2.64

$2.05 $2.05

28.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.27 $2.27

$2.01 $2.01

12.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.98 $6.98

$4.93 $4.93

41.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.83 $8.83

$7.18 $7.18

22.98%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 $1.27

$0.89 $0.89

42.70%

White Bread (500g)

$3.80 $3.80

$2.56 $2.56

48.44%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.30 $5.30

$3.75 $3.75

41.33%

Eggs

$4.76 $4.76

$3.04 $3.04

56.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.96 $13.96

$8.58 $8.58

62.70%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.61 $14.61

$13.75 $13.75

6.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.77 $18.77

$18.56 $18.56

1.13%

Apples (1kg)

$5.19 $5.19

$4.75 $4.75

9.26%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.80 $1.80

10.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.93 $3.93

$3.81 $3.81

3.15%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.96 $4.96

$4.15 $4.15

19.52%

Potato (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$3.11 $3.11

-11.25%

Onion (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$3.26 $3.26

-15.34%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.22 $2.22

$1.83 $1.83

21.31%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.98 $2.98

$2.11 $2.11

41.23%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.02 $14.02

$10.79 $10.79

29.94%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.28 $15.28

$15.03 $15.03

1.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$1.70 $1.70

51.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.50 $3.50

$2.92 $2.92

19.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.47 $2.47

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.8 $74.8

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$3.54 $3.54

-5.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.43 $1.43

$1.84 $1.84

-22.28%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.32 $24.32

$50.2 $50.2

-51.58%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 $1.26

$1.30 $1.30

-3.08%

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

$35.0K $35.0K

$25.6K $25.6K

36.72%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$24.5K $24.5K

6.34%

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

$193 $193

$216 $216

-10.98%

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

$68.3 $68.3

$40.51 $40.51

68.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.3 $61.3

$79.5 $79.5

-22.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.1 $54.1

$34.39 $34.39

57.37%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.92 $27.92

Cinema Ticket

$17.74 $17.74

$14.77 $14.77

20.11%

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

$1,652 $1,652

$1,077 $1,077

53.38%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.1K $31.1K

$16.8K $16.8K

85.36%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.1 $66.1

$55.7 $55.7

18.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.2 $51.2

$46.82 $46.82

9.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100 $100

$78.9 $78.9

26.96%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$141 $141

$81.3 $81.3

73.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,446 $2,446

$1,470 $1,470

66.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,678 $1,678

$1,381 $1,381

21.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,717 $4,717

$2,298 $2,298

105.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,795 $2,795

$2,844 $2,844

-1.71%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,105 $4,105

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,650 $2,650

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,866 $4,866

$6,864 $6,864

-29.11%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.81

6.59

3.34%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 19, 2026

Last update for Auburn, WA: October 20, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Chicago, IL

$1.7K 53.5%

Auburn, WA

$1.4K 53.4% 17.7% $296

Groceries & Markets

Chicago, IL

$449 14.3%

Auburn, WA

$375 14.5% 16.5% $74

Eating Out

Chicago, IL

$343 10.9%

Auburn, WA

$301 11.6% 12.2% $42

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chicago, IL

$322 10.3%

Auburn, WA

$336 13% 4.4% $14

Clothing & Footwear

Chicago, IL

$161 5.1%

Auburn, WA

$118 4.6% 26.7% $43

Getting Around

Chicago, IL

$95 3%

Auburn, WA

$13 * 0.5% 86.6% $82

Sport & Entertainment

Chicago, IL

$90 2.9%

Auburn, WA

$64 2.5% 28.7% $26

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,446 in Chicago, IL versus $1,470 in Auburn, WA. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 41% higher in Auburn, WA, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $90.0 in Chicago, IL versus $96.0 in Auburn, WA. Groceries tell a different story – $449 in Chicago, IL vs $375 in Auburn, WA – so Auburn, WA wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 Auburn, WA

🕒 Local time

19:15 7:15 PM

17:15 5:15 PM

2 h behind Chicago, IL

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

2,746,388

76,143

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Chicago, IL Auburn, WA 2,780 km ≈ 4 h nonstop flight

From you

Chicago, IL
Auburn, WA

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Auburn, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chicago, IL costs about 21% more than Auburn, WA, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from transport. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,708 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,884 in Auburn, WA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Auburn, WA, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,139 in Chicago, IL and $2,589 in Auburn, WA. That's a gap of about 21%.

Kindergarten costs $1,652 per month in Chicago, IL and $1,077 in Auburn, WA. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Auburn, WA, where all-in costs run around $2,589, than in Chicago, IL at $3,139. In Auburn, WA it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chicago, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Auburn, WA costs $2,589 versus $3,139 in Chicago, IL. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Auburn, WA. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chicago, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.