Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Binghamton, NY Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Binghamton, NY

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,106 in Chicago, IL versus $2,221 in Binghamton, NY.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,599 in Chicago, IL versus $3,337 in Binghamton, NY.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,092 in Chicago, IL versus $4,452 in Binghamton, NY.

Living in Chicago, IL is roughly 40% more expensive than in Binghamton, NY, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 126% above, Binghamton, NY 62% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.86 $19.86

$19.63 $19.63

1.17%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.3 $88.3

$50.2 $50.2

75.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.23 $13.23

$10.07 $10.07

31.38%

Cappuccino

$5.86 $5.86

$4.73 $4.73

23.89%

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

$2.61 $2.61

$2.15 $2.15

21.40%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 $2.32

$1.53 $1.53

51.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.03 $7.03

$4.91 $4.91

43.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.25 $9.25

$5.46 $5.46

69.41%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$0.90 $0.90

48.89%

White Bread (500g)

$4.19 $4.19

$3.20 $3.20

30.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.50 $5.50

$5.22 $5.22

5.36%

Eggs

$4.71 $4.71

$4.28 $4.28

10.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.72 $14.72

$12.42 $12.42

18.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.53 $14.53

$11.90 $11.90

22.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.69 $19.69

$15.81 $15.81

24.54%

Apples (1kg)

$5.64 $5.64

$5.11 $5.11

10.37%

Banana (1kg)

$1.97 $1.97

$1.73 $1.73

13.87%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.04 $4.04

$5.94 $5.94

-31.99%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.07 $5.07

$5.05 $5.05

0.40%

Potato (1kg)

$2.94 $2.94

$4.50 $4.50

-34.67%

Onion (1kg)

$2.92 $2.92

$3.08 $3.08

-5.19%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.28 $2.28

$2.04 $2.04

11.76%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.12 $3.12

$2.87 $2.87

8.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$16.19 $16.19

$11.34 $11.34

42.77%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.17 $15.17

$19.91 $19.91

-23.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.67 $2.67

$1.69 $1.69

57.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.48 $3.48

$3.28 $3.28

6.10%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.54 $2.54

$1.94 $1.94

30.93%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$76.0 $76.0

$69.0 $69.0

10.15%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.16 $3.16

$3.02 $3.02

4.64%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.37 $1.37

$2.07 $2.07

-33.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.66 $22.66

$24.22 $24.22

-6.44%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 $1.20

$0.91 $0.91

31.87%

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

$37.0K $37.0K

$30.5K $30.5K

21.53%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$25.0K $25.0K

4.32%

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

$190 $190

$213 $213

-11.06%

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

$68.5 $68.5

$64.3 $64.3

6.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.1 $61.1

$67.2 $67.2

-9.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.8 $63.8

$51.5 $51.5

23.80%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.80 $27.80

$39.84 $39.84

-30.22%

Cinema Ticket

$18.28 $18.28

$13.10 $13.10

39.54%

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

$1,525 $1,525

$1,233 $1,233

23.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$32.0K $32.0K

$23.8K $23.8K

34.50%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.0 $64.0

$41.19 $41.19

55.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.4 $54.4

$41.23 $41.23

31.94%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 $101

$75.6 $75.6

33.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$153 $153

$132 $132

16.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,421 $2,421

$1,084 $1,084

123.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,690 $1,690

$871 $871

94.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,584 $4,584

$2,142 $2,142

114.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,782 $2,782

$1,543 $1,543

80.31%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,170 $4,170

$1,240 $1,240

236.29%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,739 $2,739

$1,231 $1,231

122.48%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,777 $4,777

$3,669 $3,669

30.20%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.38

6.17

3.40%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: August 29, 2026

Last update for Binghamton, NY: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,421 in Chicago, IL and $1,084 in Binghamton, NY. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chicago, IL pays 30% 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: $88.0 in Chicago, IL vs $50.0 in Binghamton, NY for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $465 vs $425 per month, with Binghamton, NY 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 Binghamton, NY: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Binghamton, NY is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 40% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 30% higher in Chicago, IL, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,421 in Chicago, IL versus $1,084 in Binghamton, NY. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 9% higher in Chicago, IL. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Binghamton, NY – a meal for two runs $50.0 versus $88.0 in Chicago, IL. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,221 in Binghamton, NY versus $3,106 in Chicago, IL, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Binghamton, NY but tight or insufficient in Chicago, IL. The gap between the two cities makes Binghamton, NY the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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

Expats usually find Binghamton, NY gentler on the wallet – expenses run 40% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.