Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Buffalo, NY Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Buffalo, NY

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 2.7% more expensive than Buffalo, NY without rent, and 14.6% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 6.4% more expensive than Buffalo, NY without rent, and 25.8% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$30.09 $30.09

-30.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$86.2 $86.2

16.39%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$12.2 $12.2

-1.89%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$5.42 $5.42

2.58%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.67 $2.67

16.48%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.13 $2.13

13.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$5.39 $5.39

27.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$6.92 $6.92

22.11%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$0.89 $0.89

16.85%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$3.92 $3.92

5.87%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$4.72 $4.72

16.95%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$4.02 $4.02

15.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$13.17 $13.17

8.81%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$8.13 $8.13

83.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$11.82 $11.82

63.62%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$3.85 $3.85

34.29%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.61 $1.61

6.21%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$5.23 $5.23

-15.68%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$4.87 $4.87

-7.39%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.46 $2.46

2.85%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$3.61 $3.61

-24.10%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.45 $2.45

-0.82%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$2.45 $2.45

10.20%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$13.74 $13.74

10.55%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$17.78 $17.78

-7.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.76 $1.76

33.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$7.52 $7.52

-50.80%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.02 $2.02

25.25%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

$91.9 $91.9

-19.31%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$5.19 $5.19

-35.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$2.2 $2.2

-35.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$44.39 $44.39

-42.73%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.9 $0.9

20.00%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$32.3K $32.3K

0.27%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$24.5K $24.5K

6.87%

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

$188 $188

$254 $254

-25.81%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$46.28 $46.28

37.64%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$61 $61

6.90%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$33.36 $33.36

129.98%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

$56.5 $56.5

-76.92%

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$14.1 $14.1

5.89%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$901 $901

128.81%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$28.6K $28.6K

37.02%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$45.76 $45.76

40.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$46.48 $46.48

12.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$102 $102

-6.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$113 $113

27.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$1,561 $1,561

52.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,173 $1,173

35.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$2,043 $2,043

133.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$1,747 $1,747

61.16%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$2,235 $2,235

60.55%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$1,904 $1,904

30.78%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$3,351 $3,351

57.41%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.53

1.07%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Buffalo, NY: October 29, 2025

Similar cities

Amsterdam

🇳🇱 Netherlands

Dallas, TX

🇺🇸 United States

Denver, CO

🇺🇸 United States

Miami, FL

🇺🇸 United States

San Diego, CA

🇺🇸 United States

Philadelphia, PA

🇺🇸 United States

Atlanta, GA

🇺🇸 United States

Minneapolis, MN

🇺🇸 United States