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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,077 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,456 in Buckley, WA, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,628 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,641 in Buckley, WA, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,179 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,827 in Buckley, WA, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 25% more than Buckley, WA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chicago, IL and Buckley, WA sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 130%, Buckley, WA by 83%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.91 $20.91

$27.42 $27.42

-23.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.1 $98.1

$70.4 $70.4

39.37%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.86 $11.86

$12.21 $12.21

-2.87%

Cappuccino

$5.60 $5.60

$6.23 $6.23

-10.11%

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

$3.07 $3.07

$3.45 $3.45

-11.01%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.67 $2.67

-7.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.14 $7.14

$6.96 $6.96

2.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.08 $8.08

$5.84 $5.84

38.36%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$0.82 $0.82

28.05%

White Bread (500g)

$4.11 $4.11

$2.14 $2.14

92.06%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.61 $5.61

$4.14 $4.14

35.51%

Eggs

$4.51 $4.51

$3.92 $3.92

15.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.27 $14.27

$13.35 $13.35

6.89%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.89 $14.89

$8.65 $8.65

72.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.19 $19.19

$13.04 $13.04

47.16%

Apples (1kg)

$5.14 $5.14

$3.23 $3.23

59.13%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 $1.77

$1.57 $1.57

12.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.39 $4.39

$2.79 $2.79

57.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.56 $4.56

$3.30 $3.30

38.18%

Potato (1kg)

$2.54 $2.54

$2.96 $2.96

-14.19%

Onion (1kg)

$2.75 $2.75

$2.78 $2.78

-1.08%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.47 $2.47

-2.02%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$2.73 $2.73

-4.03%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.92 $14.92

$10.17 $10.17

46.71%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.80 $14.80

$6.86 $6.86

115.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$1.97 $1.97

24.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 $3.73

$4.59 $4.59

-18.74%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.48 $2.48

$1.98 $1.98

25.25%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.4 $75.4

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.18 $3.18

$4.87 $4.87

-34.70%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.23 $1.23

15.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.94 $24.94

$24.86 $24.86

0.32%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.06 $1.06

$1.12 $1.12

-5.36%

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

$31.9K $31.9K

$35.7K $35.7K

-10.59%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$26.3K $26.3K

-1.08%

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

$185 $185

$124 $124

49.14%

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

$61.7 $61.7

$61.1 $61.1

1.13%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.9 $66.9

$40.13 $40.13

66.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.2 $75.2

$43.58 $43.58

72.49%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.08 $13.08

Cinema Ticket

$14.71 $14.71

$11.03 $11.03

33.36%

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

$2,020 $2,020

$1,446 $1,446

39.71%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.4K $39.4K

$23.5K $23.5K

67.49%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.6 $64.6

$27.28 $27.28

136.84%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.5 $52.5

$60.1 $60.1

-12.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.8 $97.8

$41.73 $41.73

134.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$148 $148

$65.4 $65.4

125.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,313 $2,313

$1,582 $1,582

46.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,590 $1,590

$1,338 $1,338

18.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,608 $4,608

$2,652 $2,652

73.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,779 $2,779

$2,257 $2,257

23.09%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,922 $3,922

$2,654 $2,654

47.74%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,613 $2,613

$2,387 $2,387

9.47%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,217 $5,217

$2,475 $2,475

110.78%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.66

-0.90%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: May 30, 2026

Last update for Buckley, WA: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,313 in Chicago, IL versus $1,582 in Buckley, WA. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 111% higher in Chicago, IL, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $98.0 in Chicago, IL versus $70.0 in Buckley, WA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $447 vs $327 – making Buckley, WA the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Buckley, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Chicago, IL is pricier by about 25%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,616 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,684 in Buckley, WA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Buckley, WA, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $98.0 in Chicago, IL and $70.0 in Buckley, WA. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 37% more in Chicago, IL, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Buckley, WA, where all-in costs run around $2,456, than in Chicago, IL at $3,077. In Buckley, WA it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chicago, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Buckley, WA – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Buckley, WA. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chicago, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.