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 13.2% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 9% more expensive than Baltimore, MD without rent, and 17.5% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.10 $20.10

$19.73 $19.73

1.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$102 $102

$78.8 $78.8

29.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.02 $12.02

$10.02 $10.02

19.96%

Cappuccino

$5.62 $5.62

$4.96 $4.96

13.31%

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

$3.01 $3.01

$2.32 $2.32

29.74%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$2.11 $2.11

11.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.98 $6.98

$6.16 $6.16

13.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$7.48 $7.48

12.97%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$1.01 $1.01

7.92%

White Bread (500g)

$4.12 $4.12

$3.81 $3.81

8.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.57 $5.57

$4.56 $4.56

22.15%

Eggs

$4.51 $4.51

$4.41 $4.41

2.27%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.42 $14.42

$13.58 $13.58

6.19%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.02 $15.02

$9.75 $9.75

54.05%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.98 $18.98

$16.23 $16.23

16.94%

Apples (1kg)

$5.20 $5.20

$6.93 $6.93

-24.96%

Banana (1kg)

$1.78 $1.78

$1.64 $1.64

8.54%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.34 $4.34

$6.97 $6.97

-37.73%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.53 $4.53

$5.51 $5.51

-17.79%

Potato (1kg)

$2.55 $2.55

$2.72 $2.72

-6.25%

Onion (1kg)

$2.71 $2.71

$2.94 $2.94

-7.82%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.49 $2.49

$2.41 $2.41

3.32%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.63 $2.63

$2.77 $2.77

-5.05%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.12 $15.12

$12.59 $12.59

20.10%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.91 $14.91

$15.58 $15.58

-4.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.27 $2.27

8.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 $3.66

$4.09 $4.09

-10.51%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.57 $2.57

$2.54 $2.54

1.18%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.3 $74.3

$78.2 $78.2

-4.98%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.30 $3.30

$1.84 $1.84

79.35%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.37 $1.37

$1.40 $1.40

-2.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.96 $24.96

$23.84 $23.84

4.70%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.06 $1.06

$0.90 $0.90

17.78%

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

$31.4K $31.4K

$25.2K $25.2K

24.83%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$25.6K $25.6K

2.57%

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

$187 $187

$169 $169

10.13%

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

$63.0 $63.0

$57.0 $57.0

10.52%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.8 $65.8

$81.0 $81.0

-18.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.2 $75.2

$57.3 $57.3

31.27%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.95 $12.95

$29.75 $29.75

-56.47%

Cinema Ticket

$15.13 $15.13

$15.06 $15.06

0.46%

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

$2,067 $2,067

$1,270 $1,270

62.81%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$38.8K $38.8K

$33.0K $33.0K

17.42%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.0 $64.0

$52.2 $52.2

22.58%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.8 $50.8

$73.3 $73.3

-30.69%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.3 $97.3

$85.0 $85.0

14.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$144 $144

$114 $114

26.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,338 $2,338

$1,873 $1,873

24.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,614 $1,614

$1,350 $1,350

19.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,764 $4,764

$3,297 $3,297

44.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,762 $2,762

$2,223 $2,223

24.22%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,766 $3,766

$2,431 $2,431

54.94%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,614 $2,614

$2,298 $2,298

13.77%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,006 $5,006

$4,208 $4,208

18.98%

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: March 3, 2026

Last update for Baltimore, MD: March 2, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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