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: $3,077 in Chicago, IL versus $2,649 in Carlisle, PA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,628 in Chicago, IL versus $3,785 in Carlisle, PA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,179 in Chicago, IL versus $4,921 in Carlisle, PA.

Living in Chicago, IL is roughly 16% more expensive than Carlisle, PA, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 130% above, Carlisle, PA 98% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.91 $20.91

$15.26 $15.26

37.02%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.1 $98.1

$45.47 $45.47

115.81%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.86 $11.86

$14.16 $14.16

-16.24%

Cappuccino

$5.60 $5.60

$5.41 $5.41

3.51%

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

$3.07 $3.07

$2.03 $2.03

51.23%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.36 $2.36

4.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.14 $7.14

$3.47 $3.47

105.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.08 $8.08

$5.49 $5.49

47.18%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$0.97 $0.97

8.25%

White Bread (500g)

$4.11 $4.11

$3.05 $3.05

34.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.61 $5.61

$6.17 $6.17

-9.08%

Eggs

$4.51 $4.51

$4.84 $4.84

-6.82%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.27 $14.27

$18.85 $18.85

-24.30%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.89 $14.89

$10.43 $10.43

42.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.19 $19.19

$16.26 $16.26

18.02%

Apples (1kg)

$5.14 $5.14

$5.23 $5.23

-1.72%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 $1.77

$1.76 $1.76

0.57%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.39 $4.39

$6.96 $6.96

-36.93%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.56 $4.56

$6.51 $6.51

-29.95%

Potato (1kg)

$2.54 $2.54

$3.43 $3.43

-25.95%

Onion (1kg)

$2.75 $2.75

$2.69 $2.69

2.23%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.28 $2.28

6.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$2.49 $2.49

5.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.92 $14.92

$10.54 $10.54

41.56%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.80 $14.80

$13.99 $13.99

5.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$2.61 $2.61

-5.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 $3.73

$4.88 $4.88

-23.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.48 $2.48

$2.05 $2.05

20.98%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.4 $75.4

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.18 $3.18

$3.53 $3.53

-9.92%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.65 $1.65

-13.94%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.94 $24.94

$28.92 $28.92

-13.76%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.06 $1.06

$0.86 $0.86

23.26%

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

$31.9K $31.9K

$29.3K $29.3K

8.86%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$25.9K $25.9K

0.71%

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

$185 $185

$210 $210

-11.80%

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

$61.7 $61.7

$62.0 $62.0

-0.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.9 $66.9

$73.6 $73.6

-9.10%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.2 $75.2

$43.37 $43.37

73.32%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.08 $13.08

Cinema Ticket

$14.71 $14.71

$14.77 $14.77

-0.41%

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

$2,020 $2,020

$1,770 $1,770

14.15%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.4K $39.4K

$23.6K $23.6K

66.95%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.6 $64.6

$53.7 $53.7

20.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.5 $52.5

$61.9 $61.9

-15.25%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.8 $97.8

$97.0 $97.0

0.88%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$148 $148

$193 $193

-23.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,313 $2,313

$1,598 $1,598

44.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,590 $1,590

$1,374 $1,374

15.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,608 $4,608

$2,609 $2,609

76.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,779 $2,779

$2,225 $2,225

24.88%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,922 $3,922

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,613 $2,613

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,217 $5,217

$5,659 $5,659

-7.80%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.61

-0.15%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: May 30, 2026

Last update for Carlisle, PA: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,313 in Chicago, IL and $1,598 in Carlisle, PA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Carlisle, PA pays 8% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $98.0 in Chicago, IL vs $45.00 in Carlisle, PA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $447 vs $444 per month, with Carlisle, PA 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 Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 16% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Carlisle, PA earns 8% less. 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: $2,313 in Chicago, IL versus $1,598 in Carlisle, PA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $2,020 in Chicago, IL versus $1,770 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 $45.00 versus $98.0 in Chicago, IL. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Carlisle, PA is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

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 16% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.