Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Baltimore, MD Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Baltimore, MD

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 5.3% more expensive than Baltimore, MD without rent, and 12.7% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 9.4% more expensive than Baltimore, MD without rent, and 15% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$20.25 $20.25

2.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$78.8 $78.8

27.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$10.08 $10.08

18.75%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$5.02 $5.02

10.76%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.36 $2.36

31.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.17 $2.17

11.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$5.99 $5.99

14.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$7.63 $7.63

10.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.02 $1.02

1.96%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$3.86 $3.86

7.51%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$4.58 $4.58

20.52%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$4.33 $4.33

7.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$13.21 $13.21

8.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$9.93 $9.93

49.85%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$16.01 $16.01

20.80%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$6.9 $6.9

-25.07%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.58 $1.58

8.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$6.86 $6.86

-35.71%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$5.36 $5.36

-15.86%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.74 $2.74

-7.66%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.91 $2.91

-5.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.51 $2.51

-3.19%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$2.72 $2.72

-0.74%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$12.41 $12.41

22.40%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$14.73 $14.73

11.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$2.34 $2.34

0.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$3.91 $3.91

-5.37%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.46 $2.46

2.85%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

$78 $78

-4.95%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$1.77 $1.77

88.70%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.4 $1.4

1.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$24.12 $24.12

5.39%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.85 $0.85

27.06%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$25.6K $25.6K

26.77%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$25.9K $25.9K

1.14%

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

$188 $188

$174 $174

8.22%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$56.4 $56.4

13.02%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$80.6 $80.6

-19.13%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$56.8 $56.8

35.07%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

$30.49 $30.49

-57.26%

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$15.06 $15.06

-0.86%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,262 $1,262

63.45%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$33.4K $33.4K

17.14%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$51.9 $51.9

24.01%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$73.5 $73.5

-28.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$85.2 $85.2

11.78%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$111 $111

29.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$1,877 $1,877

26.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,350 $1,350

17.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$3,340 $3,340

42.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$2,250 $2,250

25.13%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$2,258 $2,258

58.87%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$1,993 $1,993

24.96%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$3,966 $3,966

33.02%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.59

0.15%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Baltimore, MD: October 28, 2025

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