Comparación del coste de vida entre Chicago, IL y Bel Air, MD Comparación del coste de vida entre Chicago, IL y Bel Air, MD

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,009 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,676 in Bel Air, MD, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,593 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,895 in Bel Air, MD, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,177 per month in Chicago, IL vs $5,114 in Bel Air, MD, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 12% more than Bel Air, MD, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chicago, IL and Bel Air, MD sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 125%, Bel Air, MD by 100%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.35 $20.35

$16.24 $16.24

25.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$102 $102

$67.7 $67.7

50.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.98 $11.98

$9.97 $9.97

20.16%

Cappuccino

$5.70 $5.70

$5.40 $5.40

5.56%

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

$3.00 $3.00

$1.80 $1.80

66.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$1.78 $1.78

38.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.87 $6.87

$6.54 $6.54

5.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.09 $8.09

$6.41 $6.41

26.21%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.03 $1.03

$1.05 $1.05

-1.90%

White Bread (500g)

$3.95 $3.95

$3.50 $3.50

12.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.42 $5.42

$4.47 $4.47

21.25%

Eggs

$4.50 $4.50

$4.11 $4.11

9.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.53 $14.53

$12.49 $12.49

16.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.89 $14.89

$11.32 $11.32

31.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.98 $18.98

$15.46 $15.46

22.77%

Apples (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$5.00 $5.00

7.80%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 $1.77

$1.62 $1.62

9.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.35 $4.35

$4.27 $4.27

1.87%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.53 $4.53

$4.64 $4.64

-2.37%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.81 $2.81

-9.96%

Onion (1kg)

$2.81 $2.81

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.51 $2.51

$2.01 $2.01

24.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.67 $2.67

$2.11 $2.11

26.54%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.88 $14.88

$9.86 $9.86

50.91%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.22 $15.22

$14.75 $14.75

3.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$1.77 $1.77

38.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.53 $3.53

$3.31 $3.31

6.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.56 $2.56

$2.05 $2.05

24.88%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.3 $74.3

$102 $102

-26.92%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.19 $3.19

$3.55 $3.55

-10.14%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.41 $1.41

$1.60 $1.60

-11.88%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.49 $25.49

$29.41 $29.41

-13.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$0.83 $0.83

25.30%

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

$32.2K $32.2K

$29.5K $29.5K

9.08%

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

$26.8K $26.8K

$25.1K $25.1K

6.48%

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

$184 $184

$190 $190

-3.17%

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

$63.1 $63.1

$53.6 $53.6

17.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.4 $66.4

$68.4 $68.4

-2.90%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.9 $75.9

$43.71 $43.71

73.67%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.06 $13.06

Cinema Ticket

$15.25 $15.25

$13.25 $13.25

15.09%

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

$2,090 $2,090

$1,307 $1,307

59.94%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$23.4K $23.4K

67.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.2 $64.2

$51.8 $51.8

23.91%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.0 $51.0

$40.71 $40.71

25.28%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.2 $97.2

$87.5 $87.5

11.11%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$149 $149

$110 $110

34.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,341 $2,341

$1,610 $1,610

45.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,572 $1,572

$1,355 $1,355

16.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,741 $4,741

$2,675 $2,675

77.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,819 $2,819

$2,237 $2,237

26.00%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,900 $3,900

$2,422 $2,422

61.00%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,638 $2,638

$2,650 $2,650

-0.45%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,769 $4,769

$5,089 $5,089

-6.30%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.51

1.38%

Los datos de CityCost se basan en IA y aportaciones de usuarios. Puede haber pequeñas variaciones.

Última actualización para Chicago, IL: April 25, 2026

Última actualización para Bel Air, MD: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,341 in Chicago, IL versus $1,610 in Bel Air, MD. 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 7% higher in Bel Air, MD, 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 $102 in Chicago, IL versus $68.0 in Bel Air, MD. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $447 vs $388 – making Bel Air, MD the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Comparación de velocidades medias de internet por ciudad (actualizado April 2026)

El gráfico resalta el umbral de precisión para velocidades de internet móvil y fija, actualizado trimestralmente.

Índice del coste de vida para nómadas digitales

Chicago, IL vs Bel Air, MD: Coste de vida - preguntas frecuentes

Monthly costs with rent: $3,009 in Chicago, IL, $2,676 in Bel Air, MD – roughly 12% apart. Chicago, IL costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,513 per month in Chicago, IL and $4,014 in Bel Air, MD. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Bel Air, MD, 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 $3,009 in Chicago, IL and $2,676 in Bel Air, MD. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 37% less in Bel Air, MD. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,009 in Chicago, IL and $2,676 in Bel Air, MD. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,676 in Bel Air, MD to $3,009 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Bel Air, MD. 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.