Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Bethlehem, PA Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Bethlehem, PA

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 19.9% more expensive than Bethlehem, PA without rent, and 9.4% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 27.2% more expensive than Bethlehem, PA without rent, and 26.1% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$18.3 $18.3

13.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$50.7 $50.7

97.99%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$13.13 $13.13

-8.83%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$4.88 $4.88

13.93%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.93 $2.93

6.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.96 $1.96

23.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$5.12 $5.12

33.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$7.87 $7.87

7.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.07 $1.07

-2.80%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$4.09 $4.09

1.47%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$4.3 $4.3

28.37%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$4.14 $4.14

12.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$12.05 $12.05

18.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$17.09 $17.09

-12.93%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$21.82 $21.82

-11.37%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$11.74 $11.74

-55.96%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.35 $1.35

26.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$4.38 $4.38

0.68%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$7.23 $7.23

-37.62%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$5.4 $5.4

-53.15%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$9.89 $9.89

-72.30%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.7 $2.7

-10.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$1.93 $1.93

39.90%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$9.98 $9.98

52.20%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$15.74 $15.74

4.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$4.25 $4.25

-44.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$5.23 $5.23

-29.25%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.03 $2.03

24.63%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

$59.8 $59.8

24.05%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$3.52 $3.52

-5.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.65 $1.65

-13.94%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$29.43 $29.43

-13.63%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.87 $0.87

24.14%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$29.8K $29.8K

8.69%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$25.3K $25.3K

3.60%

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

$188 $188

$227 $227

-16.94%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$64 $64

-0.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$60.3 $60.3

8.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$36.46 $36.46

110.42%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$14.94 $14.94

-0.07%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,006 $1,006

104.96%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$23K $23K

70.02%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$55.3 $55.3

16.23%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$30.48 $30.48

71.88%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$65.9 $65.9

44.39%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$81.4 $81.4

77.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$1,472 $1,472

61.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,319 $1,319

20.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$2,120 $2,120

124.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$1,991 $1,991

41.39%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$2,086 $2,086

71.99%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$1,967 $1,967

26.63%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$3,767 $3,767

40.02%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.62

-0.30%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Bethlehem, PA: October 29, 2025

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