Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Carlisle, PA Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Carlisle, PA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,184 in Chicago, IL versus $2,531 in Carlisle, PA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,725 in Chicago, IL versus $3,739 in Carlisle, PA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,266 in Chicago, IL versus $4,947 in Carlisle, PA.

Living in Chicago, IL is roughly 26% more expensive than in Carlisle, PA, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 131% above, Carlisle, PA 84% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.26 $20.26

$23.70 $23.70

-14.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.8 $88.8

$98.5 $98.5

-9.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.16 $13.16

$11.16 $11.16

17.92%

Cappuccino

$5.77 $5.77

$5.84 $5.84

-1.20%

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

$2.63 $2.63

$3.03 $3.03

-13.20%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 $2.34

$2.42 $2.42

-3.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.06 $7.06

$8.18 $8.18

-13.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.18 $9.18

$8.96 $8.96

2.46%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.30 $1.30

$1.21 $1.21

7.44%

White Bread (500g)

$4.05 $4.05

$4.46 $4.46

-9.19%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.69 $5.69

$5.27 $5.27

7.97%

Eggs

$4.85 $4.85

$5.18 $5.18

-6.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.08 $15.08

$21.55 $21.55

-30.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.87 $14.87

$15.67 $15.67

-5.11%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.28 $19.28

$23.23 $23.23

-17.00%

Apples (1kg)

$5.68 $5.68

$5.74 $5.74

-1.05%

Banana (1kg)

$1.93 $1.93

$1.83 $1.83

5.46%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.10 $4.10

$4.61 $4.61

-11.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.11 $5.11

$5.87 $5.87

-12.95%

Potato (1kg)

$2.92 $2.92

$3.31 $3.31

-11.78%

Onion (1kg)

$2.77 $2.77

$3.85 $3.85

-28.05%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.30 $2.30

$2.37 $2.37

-2.95%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.04 $3.04

$2.58 $2.58

17.83%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.93 $15.93

$10.35 $10.35

53.91%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.06 $15.06

$16.97 $16.97

-11.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.86 $2.86

-11.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.48 $3.48

$2.92 $2.92

19.18%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.85 $1.85

36.76%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.8 $74.8

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.28 $3.28

$4.09 $4.09

-19.80%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.36 $1.36

$1.26 $1.26

7.94%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.55 $22.55

$25.35 $25.35

-11.05%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 $1.22

$0.98 $0.98

24.49%

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

$36.1K $36.1K

$34.7K $34.7K

3.99%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$24.8K $24.8K

4.87%

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

$188 $188

$166 $166

13.19%

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

$69.0 $69.0

$50.9 $50.9

35.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.6 $63.6

$62.3 $62.3

2.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.4 $63.4

$41.50 $41.50

52.87%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.11 $27.11

Cinema Ticket

$17.90 $17.90

$16.61 $16.61

7.77%

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

$1,526 $1,526

$1,591 $1,591

-4.09%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.9K $31.9K

$36.2K $36.2K

-12.00%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.1 $62.1

$55.4 $55.4

12.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$56.4 $56.4

$63.4 $63.4

-11.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 $101

$100 $100

0.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$156 $156

$162 $162

-3.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,342 $2,342

$1,183 $1,183

97.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,698 $1,698

$1,070 $1,070

58.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,576 $4,576

$1,867 $1,867

145.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,806 $2,806

$1,657 $1,657

69.32%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,130 $4,130

$3,000 $3,000

37.66%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,740 $2,740

$2,092 $2,092

30.96%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,891 $4,891

$5,511 $5,511

-11.25%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.38

6.27

1.75%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: September 6, 2026

Last update for Carlisle, PA: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,342 in Chicago, IL and $1,183 in Carlisle, PA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Carlisle, PA pays 13% 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 $99.0 in Carlisle, PA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $465 vs $511 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 Carlisle, PA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Carlisle, PA is cheaper overall, especially in Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 26% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 13% lower in Carlisle, PA. 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 $1,183 in Carlisle, PA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,526 in Chicago, IL versus $1,591 in Carlisle, PA. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Carlisle, PA – a meal for two runs $99.0 versus $89.0 in Chicago, IL. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,531 in Carlisle, PA versus $3,184 in Chicago, IL, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Carlisle, PA but tight or insufficient in Chicago, IL. The gap between the two cities makes Carlisle, PA the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Carlisle, PA is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Chicago, IL, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Expats usually find Carlisle, PA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 26% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.