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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,068 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,739 in Bethlehem, PA, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,648 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,814 in Bethlehem, PA, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,229 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,888 in Bethlehem, PA, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 12% more than Bethlehem, PA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chicago, IL and Bethlehem, PA sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 130%, Bethlehem, PA by 105%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.17 $20.17

$17.81 $17.81

13.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.5 $99.5

$50.6 $50.6

96.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.23 $12.23

$13.09 $13.09

-6.57%

Cappuccino

$5.60 $5.60

$5.07 $5.07

10.45%

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

$3.12 $3.12

$2.92 $2.92

6.85%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.95 $1.95

24.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.93 $6.93

$5.30 $5.30

30.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.20 $8.20

$7.98 $7.98

2.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

White Bread (500g)

$3.97 $3.97

$4.05 $4.05

-1.98%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.58 $5.58

$4.37 $4.37

27.69%

Eggs

$4.47 $4.47

$4.13 $4.13

8.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.50 $14.50

$12.29 $12.29

17.98%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.08 $15.08

$16.82 $16.82

-10.34%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$21.39 $21.39

-9.58%

Apples (1kg)

$5.37 $5.37

$11.79 $11.79

-54.45%

Banana (1kg)

$1.76 $1.76

$1.34 $1.34

31.34%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.32 $4.32

$4.54 $4.54

-4.85%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$7.13 $7.13

-38.15%

Potato (1kg)

$2.54 $2.54

$5.38 $5.38

-52.79%

Onion (1kg)

$2.70 $2.70

$2.81 $2.81

-3.91%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.49 $2.49

$2.80 $2.80

-11.07%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.60 $2.60

$1.90 $1.90

36.84%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.80 $14.80

$9.93 $9.93

49.04%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.18 $15.18

$16.19 $16.19

-6.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$4.25 $4.25

-41.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.60 $3.60

$5.05 $5.05

-28.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.54 $2.54

$2.04 $2.04

24.51%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$76.3 $76.3

$59.1 $59.1

29.16%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.30 $3.30

$3.41 $3.41

-3.23%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.38 $1.38

$1.57 $1.57

-12.10%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.36 $25.36

$29.07 $29.07

-12.76%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.87 $0.87

25.29%

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

$31.6K $31.6K

$29.9K $29.9K

6.02%

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

$26.6K $26.6K

$25.4K $25.4K

4.63%

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

$186 $186

$224 $224

-16.82%

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

$62.9 $62.9

$63.6 $63.6

-1.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.2 $66.2

$61.3 $61.3

7.96%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$77.6 $77.6

$36.51 $36.51

112.60%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.16 $13.16

Cinema Ticket

$14.74 $14.74

$15.22 $15.22

-3.15%

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

$2,039 $2,039

$1,019 $1,019

100.04%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.9K $39.9K

$23.8K $23.8K

67.71%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.9 $63.9

$54.5 $54.5

17.18%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.2 $51.2

$29.67 $29.67

72.46%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$65.7 $65.7

44.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$144 $144

$80.0 $80.0

80.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,305 $2,305

$1,490 $1,490

54.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,575 $1,575

$1,305 $1,305

20.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,688 $4,688

$2,109 $2,109

122.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,737 $2,737

$1,985 $1,985

37.93%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,063 $4,063

$2,158 $2,158

88.29%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,696 $2,696

$2,171 $2,171

24.18%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,019 $5,019

$3,583 $3,583

40.06%

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: July 11, 2026

Last update for Bethlehem, PA: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,305 in Chicago, IL versus $1,490 in Bethlehem, PA. 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 40% higher in Chicago, IL, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $99.0 in Chicago, IL versus $51.0 in Bethlehem, PA. Groceries tell a different story – $448 in Chicago, IL vs $511 in Bethlehem, PA – so Chicago, IL wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Bethlehem, PA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,068 in Chicago, IL, $2,739 in Bethlehem, PA – roughly 12% apart. Chicago, IL costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,602 per month in Chicago, IL and $4,109 in Bethlehem, PA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Bethlehem, PA, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $99.0 in Chicago, IL and $51.0 in Bethlehem, PA. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,068 in Chicago, IL and $2,739 in Bethlehem, PA. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,068 in Chicago, IL and $2,739 in Bethlehem, PA. 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 $2,739 in Bethlehem, PA to $3,068 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Bethlehem, PA. 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.