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

πŸ™‚ Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 13.8% cheaper than Bothell, WA without rent, and 2.7% cheaper with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 12.7% more expensive than Bothell, WA without rent, and 0.3% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Bothell, WA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$20.85 $20.85
-0.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$100 $100
-0.01%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$13.86 $13.86
-13.64%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$5.72 $5.72
-2.80%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$3.31 $3.31
-6.04%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$2.38 $2.38
1.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$7.19 $7.19
-4.59%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$7.78 $7.78
8.61%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Bothell, WA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.24 $1.24
-16.13%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$3.73 $3.73
11.26%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$5.16 $5.16
6.98%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$6.94 $6.94
-33.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$17.23 $17.23
-16.83%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$11.13 $11.13
33.69%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$16.9 $16.9
14.44%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$6.55 $6.55
-21.07%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.88 $1.88
-9.04%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$5.3 $5.3
-16.79%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$5.31 $5.31
-15.07%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$3.1 $3.1
-18.39%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$2.85 $2.85
-3.86%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$1.95 $1.95
24.62%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.57 $2.57
5.06%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$11.64 $11.64
30.50%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$15.72 $15.72
4.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$2.96 $2.96
-20.61%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$4.35 $4.35
-14.94%
🚌 Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Bothell, WA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.68 $2.68
-5.60%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
$98.7 $98.7
-24.90%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$2.66 $2.66
25.56%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.71 $1.71
-16.96%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$29.69 $29.69
-14.38%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$1.17 $1.17
-7.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$33.5K $33.5K
-3.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$26.1K $26.1K
0.29%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Bothell, WA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$157 $157
20.22%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$61.9 $61.9
2.91%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$79.2 $79.2
-17.71%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Bothell, WA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$58.9 $58.9
30.32%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$15.24 $15.24
-2.03%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Bothell, WA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,435 $1,435
43.73%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$29.3K $29.3K
33.67%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Bothell, WA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$52 $52
23.60%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$52.6 $52.6
-0.30%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$119 $119
-19.90%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$141 $141
2.38%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Bothell, WA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,896 $1,896
25.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,617 $1,617
-2.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$3,285 $3,285
45.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$2,982 $2,982
-5.61%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$7,651 $7,651
-53.11%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$5,765 $5,765
-56.80%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Bothell, WA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$5,928 $5,928
-11.02%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.46
2.17%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Bothell, WA: October 29, 2025

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