Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Burlington, VT Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Burlington, VT

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 16.1% more expensive than Burlington, VT without rent, and 3.6% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 12.1% more expensive than Burlington, VT without rent, and 13.9% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Burlington, VT
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$21.23 $21.23
-1.93%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$79.8 $79.8
25.82%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$11.44 $11.44
4.63%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$5.31 $5.31
4.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.57 $2.57
21.01%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$2.27 $2.27
6.61%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$7.13 $7.13
-3.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$8.23 $8.23
2.67%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Burlington, VT
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.14 $1.14
-8.77%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$4.2 $4.2
-1.19%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$5.57 $5.57
-0.90%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$4.45 $4.45
4.49%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$13.87 $13.87
3.32%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$10.89 $10.89
36.64%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$13.36 $13.36
44.76%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$5.9 $5.9
-12.37%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.92 $1.92
-10.94%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$5.4 $5.4
-18.33%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$7.08 $7.08
-36.30%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$4.53 $4.53
-44.15%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$3.8 $3.8
-27.89%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.82 $2.82
-13.83%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$1.01 $1.01
167.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$12.29 $12.29
23.60%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$12.4 $12.4
32.42%
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
$3.07 $3.07
20.52%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Burlington, VT
Difference
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
$50.8 $50.8
46.01%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$2.65 $2.65
26.04%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.79 $1.79
-20.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$28.39 $28.39
-10.46%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.89 $0.89
21.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$30.5K $30.5K
6.30%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$24.9K $24.9K
5.37%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Burlington, VT
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$193 $193
-2.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$57 $57
11.73%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$59.4 $59.4
9.84%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Burlington, VT
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$75.6 $75.6
1.49%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
$27.92 $27.92
-53.33%
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$12.02 $12.02
24.21%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Burlington, VT
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,277 $1,277
61.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$11.8K $11.8K
230.89%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Burlington, VT
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$63.3 $63.3
1.53%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$30.38 $30.38
72.45%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$56 $56
69.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$89.6 $89.6
61.41%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Burlington, VT
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,781 $1,781
33.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,814 $1,814
-12.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$3,001 $3,001
58.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$2,418 $2,418
16.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$3,817 $3,817
-6.00%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$3,497 $3,497
-28.78%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Burlington, VT
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$4,483 $4,483
17.66%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.43
2.64%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Burlington, VT: October 28, 2025

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