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

๐Ÿ™‚ Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 1.8% cheaper than Bellevue, WA without rent, and 17.5% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ™‚ Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 10.4% cheaper than Bellevue, WA without rent, and 12.4% cheaper with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Bellevue, WA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$22.78 $22.78
-8.60%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$119 $119
-15.58%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$13.1 $13.1
-8.63%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$5.58 $5.58
-0.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.94 $2.94
5.78%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$2.38 $2.38
1.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$7.71 $7.71
-11.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$7.79 $7.79
8.47%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Bellevue, WA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.08 $1.08
-3.70%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$4.15 $4.15
-
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$2.84 $2.84
94.37%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$6.41 $6.41
-27.46%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$14.76 $14.76
-2.91%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$15.55 $15.55
-4.31%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$15.31 $15.31
26.32%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$5.79 $5.79
-10.71%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$2.3 $2.3
-25.65%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$4.72 $4.72
-6.57%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$3.61 $3.61
24.93%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.41 $2.41
4.98%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$3.84 $3.84
-28.65%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.47 $2.47
-1.62%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.58 $2.58
4.65%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$13.09 $13.09
16.04%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$17.63 $17.63
-6.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$2.15 $2.15
9.30%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$4.24 $4.24
-12.74%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Bellevue, WA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.8 $2.8
-9.64%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
$106 $106
-30.33%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$2.62 $2.62
27.48%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.7 $1.7
-16.47%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$29.66 $29.66
-14.30%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$1.18 $1.18
-8.47%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$33.1K $33.1K
-1.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$25.8K $25.8K
1.69%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Bellevue, WA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$177 $177
6.30%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$53.1 $53.1
20.01%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$74.1 $74.1
-12.01%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Bellevue, WA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$80.1 $80.1
-4.21%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
$41.02 $41.02
-68.24%
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$18.23 $18.23
-18.10%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Bellevue, WA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$2,133 $2,133
-3.29%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$29.1K $29.1K
34.71%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Bellevue, WA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$59 $59
8.96%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$37.16 $37.16
40.98%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$96.6 $96.6
-1.44%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$113 $113
27.63%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Bellevue, WA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$2,869 $2,869
-17.13%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$2,080 $2,080
-23.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$4,561 $4,561
4.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$3,710 $3,710
-24.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$7,502 $7,502
-52.18%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$5,653 $5,653
-55.95%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Bellevue, WA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$9,134 $9,134
-42.25%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.61
-0.15%

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 Bellevue, WA: October 28, 2025

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