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: $3,068 in Chicago, IL versus $2,288 in Binghamton, NY.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,648 in Chicago, IL versus $3,416 in Binghamton, NY.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,229 in Chicago, IL versus $4,544 in Binghamton, NY.

Living in Chicago, IL is roughly 34% more expensive than in Binghamton, NY, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 130% above, Binghamton, NY 71% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.17 $20.17

$19.94 $19.94

1.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.5 $99.5

$49.93 $49.93

99.24%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.23 $12.23

$9.97 $9.97

22.67%

Cappuccino

$5.60 $5.60

$4.63 $4.63

20.95%

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

$3.12 $3.12

$2.44 $2.44

27.87%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.01 $2.01

20.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.93 $6.93

$5.10 $5.10

35.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.20 $8.20

$5.13 $5.13

59.84%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.88 $0.88

22.73%

White Bread (500g)

$3.97 $3.97

$3.20 $3.20

24.06%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.58 $5.58

$5.90 $5.90

-5.42%

Eggs

$4.47 $4.47

$4.31 $4.31

3.71%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.50 $14.50

$16.01 $16.01

-9.43%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.08 $15.08

$13.09 $13.09

15.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$15.87 $15.87

21.87%

Apples (1kg)

$5.37 $5.37

$8.02 $8.02

-33.04%

Banana (1kg)

$1.76 $1.76

$2.97 $2.97

-40.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.32 $4.32

$6.03 $6.03

-28.36%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$5.47 $5.47

-19.38%

Potato (1kg)

$2.54 $2.54

$3.70 $3.70

-31.35%

Onion (1kg)

$2.70 $2.70

$3.28 $3.28

-17.68%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.49 $2.49

$1.98 $1.98

25.76%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.60 $2.60

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.80 $14.80

$15.07 $15.07

-1.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.18 $15.18

$19.73 $19.73

-23.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$1.77 $1.77

39.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.60 $3.60

$3.43 $3.43

4.96%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.54 $2.54

$2.02 $2.02

25.74%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$76.3 $76.3

$69.1 $69.1

10.34%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.30 $3.30

$5.97 $5.97

-44.72%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.38 $1.38

$2.23 $2.23

-38.12%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.36 $25.36

$41.21 $41.21

-38.46%

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

$25.2K $25.2K

25.52%

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

$26.6K $26.6K

$28.5K $28.5K

-6.89%

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

$186 $186

$197 $197

-5.43%

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

$62.9 $62.9

$48.49 $48.49

29.63%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.2 $66.2

$77.1 $77.1

-14.12%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$77.6 $77.6

$51.8 $51.8

49.73%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.16 $13.16

$39.96 $39.96

-67.07%

Cinema Ticket

$14.74 $14.74

$12.95 $12.95

13.82%

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

$2,039 $2,039

$1,258 $1,258

62.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.9K $39.9K

$39.5K $39.5K

0.95%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.9 $63.9

$52.5 $52.5

21.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.2 $51.2

$41.09 $41.09

24.53%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$108 $108

-11.75%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$144 $144

$130 $130

11.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,305 $2,305

$1,134 $1,134

103.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,575 $1,575

$880 $880

78.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,688 $4,688

$2,130 $2,130

120.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,737 $2,737

$1,509 $1,509

81.40%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,063 $4,063

$1,247 $1,247

225.78%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,696 $2,696

$1,239 $1,239

117.62%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,019 $5,019

$3,638 $3,638

37.95%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.55

0.76%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: July 11, 2026

Last update for Binghamton, NY: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,305 in Chicago, IL and $1,134 in Binghamton, NY. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chicago, IL pays 38% 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 $50.0 in Binghamton, NY. Groceries flip the comparison at $448 vs $464, with Chicago, IL cheaper for home cooking.

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 Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 34% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 38% 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: $2,305 in Chicago, IL versus $1,134 in Binghamton, NY. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Chicago, IL pay roughly 3% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

Dining out is cheaper in Binghamton, NY – a meal for two runs $50.0 versus $99.0 in Chicago, IL. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,288 in Binghamton, NY versus $3,068 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 34% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.