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: $3,184 in Chicago, IL versus $3,073 in Bothell, WA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,725 in Chicago, IL versus $4,790 in Bothell, WA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,266 in Chicago, IL versus $6,506 in Bothell, WA.

Living in Chicago, IL is roughly 4% more expensive than in Bothell, WA, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 131% above, Bothell, WA 123% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.26 $20.26

$22.90 $22.90

-11.53%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.8 $88.8

$93.1 $93.1

-4.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.16 $13.16

$14.92 $14.92

-11.80%

Cappuccino

$5.77 $5.77

$6.65 $6.65

-13.23%

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

$2.63 $2.63

$3.01 $3.01

-12.62%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 $2.34

$2.33 $2.33

0.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.06 $7.06

$7.82 $7.82

-9.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.18 $9.18

$7.92 $7.92

15.91%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.30 $1.30

$1.18 $1.18

10.17%

White Bread (500g)

$4.05 $4.05

$4.38 $4.38

-7.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.69 $5.69

$5.06 $5.06

12.45%

Eggs

$4.85 $4.85

$5.16 $5.16

-6.01%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.08 $15.08

$17.98 $17.98

-16.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.87 $14.87

$13.25 $13.25

12.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.28 $19.28

$22.85 $22.85

-15.62%

Apples (1kg)

$5.68 $5.68

$6.04 $6.04

-5.96%

Banana (1kg)

$1.93 $1.93

$1.88 $1.88

2.66%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.10 $4.10

$5.42 $5.42

-24.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.11 $5.11

$5.37 $5.37

-4.84%

Potato (1kg)

$2.92 $2.92

$3.79 $3.79

-22.96%

Onion (1kg)

$2.77 $2.77

$2.90 $2.90

-4.48%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.30 $2.30

$2.34 $2.34

-1.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.04 $3.04

$2.61 $2.61

16.48%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.93 $15.93

$12.47 $12.47

27.75%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.06 $15.06

$14.71 $14.71

2.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.51 $2.51

0.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.48 $3.48

$3.02 $3.02

15.23%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.95 $2.95

-14.24%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.8 $74.8

$103 $103

-27.50%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.28 $3.28

$2.62 $2.62

25.19%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.36 $1.36

$2.56 $2.56

-46.88%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.55 $22.55

$29.72 $29.72

-24.13%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 $1.22

$1.32 $1.32

-7.58%

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

$36.1K $36.1K

-0.02%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$25.4K $25.4K

2.16%

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

$188 $188

$172 $172

9.54%

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

$69.0 $69.0

$49.05 $49.05

40.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.6 $63.6

$85.0 $85.0

-25.26%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.4 $63.4

$57.6 $57.6

10.22%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.11 $27.11

$12.09 $12.09

124.23%

Cinema Ticket

$17.90 $17.90

$14.88 $14.88

20.30%

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

$1,526 $1,526

$1,468 $1,468

3.95%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.9K $31.9K

$30.6K $30.6K

4.11%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.1 $62.1

$44.73 $44.73

38.77%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$56.4 $56.4

$54.5 $54.5

3.47%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 $101

$113 $113

-10.64%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$156 $156

$161 $161

-2.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,342 $2,342

$1,939 $1,939

20.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,698 $1,698

$1,596 $1,596

6.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,576 $4,576

$3,567 $3,567

28.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,806 $2,806

$2,964 $2,964

-5.34%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,130 $4,130

$5,884 $5,884

-29.81%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,740 $2,740

$4,778 $4,778

-42.67%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,891 $4,891

$6,326 $6,326

-22.69%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.38

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: September 6, 2026

Last update for Bothell, WA: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,342 in Chicago, IL and $1,939 in Bothell, WA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bothell, WA pays 29% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $89.0 in Chicago, IL vs $93.0 in Bothell, WA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $465 vs $481 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 4% in total monthly costs ($3,184 vs $3,073 including rent). Bothell, WA is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 29% 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: $2,342 in Chicago, IL versus $1,939 in Bothell, WA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Chicago, IL pay roughly 4% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

Dining out is cheaper in Bothell, WA – a meal for two runs $93.0 versus $89.0 in Chicago, IL. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Bothell, WA 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 Bothell, WA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 4% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.