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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,068 in Chicago, IL versus $3,094 in Bothell, WA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,648 in Chicago, IL versus $4,701 in Bothell, WA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,229 in Chicago, IL versus $6,308 in Bothell, WA.

Living in Chicago, IL costs roughly 1% less than in Bothell, WA, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 130% above, Bothell, WA 132% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.17 $20.17

$20.20 $20.20

-0.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.5 $99.5

$100 $100

-0.93%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.23 $12.23

$13.88 $13.88

-11.89%

Cappuccino

$5.60 $5.60

$5.82 $5.82

-3.78%

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

$3.12 $3.12

$3.42 $3.42

-8.77%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.50 $2.50

-2.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.93 $6.93

$6.90 $6.90

0.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.20 $8.20

$7.83 $7.83

4.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$1.29 $1.29

-16.28%

White Bread (500g)

$3.97 $3.97

$3.86 $3.86

2.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.58 $5.58

$5.36 $5.36

4.10%

Eggs

$4.47 $4.47

$6.75 $6.75

-33.78%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.50 $14.50

$17.12 $17.12

-15.30%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.08 $15.08

$10.86 $10.86

38.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$16.57 $16.57

16.72%

Apples (1kg)

$5.37 $5.37

$6.44 $6.44

-16.61%

Banana (1kg)

$1.76 $1.76

$1.85 $1.85

-4.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.32 $4.32

$5.28 $5.28

-18.18%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$5.30 $5.30

-16.79%

Potato (1kg)

$2.54 $2.54

$3.24 $3.24

-21.60%

Onion (1kg)

$2.70 $2.70

$2.74 $2.74

-1.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.49 $2.49

$1.96 $1.96

27.04%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.60 $2.60

$2.67 $2.67

-2.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.80 $14.80

$11.45 $11.45

29.26%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.18 $15.18

$14.82 $14.82

2.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.91 $2.91

-15.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.60 $3.60

$4.23 $4.23

-14.89%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.54 $2.54

$2.79 $2.79

-8.96%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$76.3 $76.3

$97.8 $97.8

-22.01%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.30 $3.30

$2.63 $2.63

25.48%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.38 $1.38

$1.63 $1.63

-15.34%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.36 $25.36

$30.50 $30.50

-16.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$1.17 $1.17

-6.84%

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

$31.6K $31.6K

$32.9K $32.9K

-3.87%

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

$26.6K $26.6K

$26.3K $26.3K

0.87%

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

$186 $186

$155 $155

19.68%

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

$62.9 $62.9

$61.8 $61.8

1.80%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.2 $66.2

$80.7 $80.7

-17.93%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$77.6 $77.6

$59.0 $59.0

31.51%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.16 $13.16

Cinema Ticket

$14.74 $14.74

$15.09 $15.09

-2.32%

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

$2,039 $2,039

$1,464 $1,464

39.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.9K $39.9K

$29.3K $29.3K

35.84%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.9 $63.9

$51.5 $51.5

24.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.2 $51.2

$52.3 $52.3

-2.10%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$119 $119

-20.22%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$144 $144

$140 $140

2.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,305 $2,305

$1,900 $1,900

21.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,575 $1,575

$1,625 $1,625

-3.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,688 $4,688

$3,315 $3,315

41.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,737 $2,737

$2,881 $2,881

-4.99%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,063 $4,063

$5,900 $5,900

-31.13%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,696 $2,696

$4,922 $4,922

-45.22%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,019 $5,019

$6,241 $6,241

-19.58%

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: July 11, 2026

Last update for Bothell, WA: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,305 in Chicago, IL and $1,900 in Bothell, WA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bothell, WA pays 24% 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 $100 in Bothell, WA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $448 vs $454 per month, with Chicago, IL 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 Bothell, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chicago, IL and Bothell, WA differ by about 1% in total monthly costs ($3,068 vs $3,094 including rent). Chicago, IL is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 24% lower in Bothell, WA. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,305 in Chicago, IL versus $1,900 in Bothell, WA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 1% higher in Bothell, WA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Chicago, IL – a meal for two runs $99.0 versus $100 in Bothell, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Chicago, IL is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Chicago, IL and Bothell, WA are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Chicago, IL gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in Bothell, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.