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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,068 in Chicago, IL versus $3,632 in Bellevue, WA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,648 in Chicago, IL versus $5,417 in Bellevue, WA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,229 in Chicago, IL versus $7,202 in Bellevue, WA.

Living in Chicago, IL costs roughly 16% less than in Bellevue, WA, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 130% above, Bellevue, WA 172% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.17 $20.17

$22.07 $22.07

-8.61%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.5 $99.5

$116 $116

-14.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.23 $12.23

$13.26 $13.26

-7.77%

Cappuccino

$5.60 $5.60

$5.63 $5.63

-0.53%

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

$3.12 $3.12

$2.90 $2.90

7.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.37 $2.37

2.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.93 $6.93

$7.66 $7.66

-9.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.20 $8.20

$7.89 $7.89

3.93%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$1.11 $1.11

-2.70%

White Bread (500g)

$3.97 $3.97

$4.21 $4.21

-5.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.58 $5.58

$2.84 $2.84

96.48%

Eggs

$4.47 $4.47

$6.43 $6.43

-30.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.50 $14.50

$14.83 $14.83

-2.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.08 $15.08

$16.01 $16.01

-5.81%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$15.12 $15.12

27.91%

Apples (1kg)

$5.37 $5.37

$5.68 $5.68

-5.46%

Banana (1kg)

$1.76 $1.76

$2.24 $2.24

-21.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.32 $4.32

$4.64 $4.64

-6.90%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$3.69 $3.69

19.51%

Potato (1kg)

$2.54 $2.54

$2.37 $2.37

7.17%

Onion (1kg)

$2.70 $2.70

$3.84 $3.84

-29.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.49 $2.49

$2.44 $2.44

2.05%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.60 $2.60

$2.56 $2.56

1.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.80 $14.80

$12.98 $12.98

14.02%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.18 $15.18

$18.14 $18.14

-16.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.07 $2.07

19.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.60 $3.60

$4.31 $4.31

-16.47%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.54 $2.54

$2.78 $2.78

-8.63%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$76.3 $76.3

$105 $105

-27.17%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.30 $3.30

$2.73 $2.73

20.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.38 $1.38

$1.66 $1.66

-16.87%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.36 $25.36

$30.57 $30.57

-17.04%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$1.20 $1.20

-9.17%

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

$31.6K $31.6K

$33.0K $33.0K

-4.22%

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

$26.6K $26.6K

$25.9K $25.9K

2.48%

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

$186 $186

$178 $178

4.49%

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

$62.9 $62.9

$53.0 $53.0

18.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.2 $66.2

$72.7 $72.7

-8.97%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$77.6 $77.6

$78.9 $78.9

-1.56%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.16 $13.16

$41.11 $41.11

-67.99%

Cinema Ticket

$14.74 $14.74

$18.30 $18.30

-19.45%

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

$2,039 $2,039

$2,171 $2,171

-6.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.9K $39.9K

$28.8K $28.8K

38.41%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.9 $63.9

$59.5 $59.5

7.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.2 $51.2

$36.89 $36.89

38.71%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$98.5 $98.5

-3.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$144 $144

$113 $113

27.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,305 $2,305

$2,857 $2,857

-19.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,575 $1,575

$2,130 $2,130

-26.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,688 $4,688

$4,594 $4,594

2.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,737 $2,737

$3,602 $3,602

-24.02%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,063 $4,063

$4,614 $4,614

-11.94%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,696 $2,696

$4,693 $4,693

-42.56%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,019 $5,019

$8,803 $8,803

-42.99%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.61

-0.15%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: July 11, 2026

Last update for Bellevue, WA: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,305 in Chicago, IL and $2,857 in Bellevue, WA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bellevue, WA pays 75% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $99.0 in Chicago, IL vs $116 in Bellevue, WA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $448 vs $450 per month, with Chicago, IL cheaper across the board.

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 Bellevue, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chicago, IL is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 18% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 75% lower in Bellevue, WA. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,305 in Chicago, IL versus $2,857 in Bellevue, WA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Chicago, IL – a meal for two runs $99.0 versus $116 in Bellevue, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $3,068 per month in Chicago, IL versus $3,632 in Bellevue, WA – a 18% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Chicago, IL is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

For families, Chicago, IL is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Bellevue, WA, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Chicago, IL and Bellevue, WA are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Chicago, IL gentler on the wallet – expenses run 18% less than in Bellevue, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.