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

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 2.4% more expensive than Bellingham, WA without rent, and 5.5% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 6.2% more expensive than Bellingham, WA without rent, and 11.7% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$20.3 $20.3

2.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$85.9 $85.9

16.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$13 $13

-7.92%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$5.25 $5.25

5.90%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.54 $2.54

22.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.1 $2.1

15.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$6.92 $6.92

-0.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$5.97 $5.97

41.54%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$3.66 $3.66

13.39%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$4.36 $4.36

26.61%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$4.25 $4.25

9.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$17.51 $17.51

-18.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$15.76 $15.76

-5.58%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$15.1 $15.1

28.08%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$5.71 $5.71

-9.46%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.63 $1.63

4.91%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$4.34 $4.34

1.61%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$5.1 $5.1

-11.57%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$3.06 $3.06

-17.32%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.18 $2.18

25.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.2 $2.2

10.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$2.47 $2.47

9.31%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$12.35 $12.35

23.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$17.71 $17.71

-7.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.76 $1.76

33.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$4.68 $4.68

-20.94%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.03 $1.03

145.63%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

$29.86 $29.86

148.26%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$10.05 $10.05

-66.77%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.7 $1.7

-16.47%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$52.8 $52.8

-51.82%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$1.11 $1.11

-2.70%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$34.6K $34.6K

-6.31%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$26.1K $26.1K

0.49%

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

$188 $188

$179 $179

5.26%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$53.9 $53.9

18.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$75.1 $75.1

-13.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$69.7 $69.7

10.04%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$17.95 $17.95

-16.82%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,465 $1,465

40.77%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$23.9K $23.9K

64.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$51.7 $51.7

24.29%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$28.75 $28.75

82.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$98.2 $98.2

-3.01%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$148 $148

-2.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$1,712 $1,712

38.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,447 $1,447

9.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$2,766 $2,766

72.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$2,510 $2,510

12.16%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$4,013 $4,013

-10.58%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$4,109 $4,109

-39.40%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$4,264 $4,264

23.70%

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: October 29, 2025

Last update for Bellingham, WA: October 27, 2025

Similar cities

Amsterdam

🇳🇱 Netherlands

Dallas, TX

🇺🇸 United States

Denver, CO

🇺🇸 United States

Miami, FL

🇺🇸 United States

San Diego, CA

🇺🇸 United States

Philadelphia, PA

🇺🇸 United States

Atlanta, GA

🇺🇸 United States

Minneapolis, MN

🇺🇸 United States