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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,084 in Chicago, IL versus $2,614 in Cedarhurst, NY.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,637 in Chicago, IL versus $3,826 in Cedarhurst, NY.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,191 in Chicago, IL versus $5,039 in Cedarhurst, NY.

Living in Chicago, IL is roughly 18% more expensive than in Cedarhurst, NY, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 131% above, Cedarhurst, NY 96% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.81 $20.81

$17.22 $17.22

20.85%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.6 $98.6

$101 $101

-2.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.90 $11.90

$12.23 $12.23

-2.70%

Cappuccino

$5.84 $5.84

$5.40 $5.40

8.15%

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

$3.07 $3.07

$2.26 $2.26

35.84%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.61 $1.61

45.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.87 $6.87

$6.86 $6.86

0.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.07 $8.07

$6.89 $6.89

17.13%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$1.33 $1.33

-21.05%

White Bread (500g)

$3.98 $3.98

$4.20 $4.20

-5.24%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.60 $5.60

$5.38 $5.38

4.09%

Eggs

$4.55 $4.55

$4.82 $4.82

-5.60%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.20 $14.20

$13.98 $13.98

1.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.90 $14.90

$10.14 $10.14

46.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.08 $19.08

$17.39 $17.39

9.72%

Apples (1kg)

$5.31 $5.31

$4.91 $4.91

8.15%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.79 $1.79

-4.47%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.24 $4.24

$3.90 $3.90

8.72%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.37 $4.37

$4.19 $4.19

4.30%

Potato (1kg)

$2.56 $2.56

$2.86 $2.86

-10.49%

Onion (1kg)

$2.80 $2.80

$2.66 $2.66

5.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.45 $2.45

0.82%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.70 $2.70

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.95 $14.95

$13.72 $13.72

8.97%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.73 $14.73

$15.25 $15.25

-3.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.37 $2.37

$1.76 $1.76

34.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.57 $3.57

$4.43 $4.43

-19.41%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.44 $2.44

$1.96 $1.96

24.49%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.2 $75.2

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.35 $3.35

$3.04 $3.04

10.20%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.37 $1.37

$2.08 $2.08

-34.13%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.29 $25.29

$24.11 $24.11

4.89%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.89 $0.89

22.47%

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

$32.3K $32.3K

$23.7K $23.7K

36.50%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$25.6K $25.6K

3.01%

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

$188 $188

$197 $197

-4.46%

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

$63.3 $63.3

$44.53 $44.53

42.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.2 $66.2

$58.8 $58.8

12.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.6 $75.6

$43.12 $43.12

75.23%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.20 $13.20

Cinema Ticket

$14.80 $14.80

$17.17 $17.17

-13.80%

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

$2,097 $2,097

$1,752 $1,752

19.65%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$38.5K $38.5K

$15.9K $15.9K

142.33%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.9 $64.9

$50.6 $50.6

28.30%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.6 $51.6

$62.6 $62.6

-17.60%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.3 $96.3

$87.5 $87.5

9.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$146 $146

$100 $100

45.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,332 $2,332

$1,633 $1,633

42.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,579 $1,579

$1,377 $1,377

14.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,775 $4,775

$2,589 $2,589

84.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,725 $2,725

$2,246 $2,246

21.32%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,023 $4,023

$3,115 $3,115

29.17%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,684 $2,684

$2,487 $2,487

7.90%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,981 $4,981

$3,925 $3,925

26.91%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.62

-0.30%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: July 20, 2026

Last update for Cedarhurst, NY: July 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,332 in Chicago, IL and $1,633 in Cedarhurst, NY. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chicago, IL pays 27% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $99.0 in Chicago, IL vs $101 in Cedarhurst, NY. Groceries flip the comparison at $445 vs $417, with Cedarhurst, NY cheaper for home cooking.

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 Cedarhurst, NY: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Cedarhurst, NY wins on cost – living expenses run 18% lower than in Chicago, IL. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Cedarhurst, NY the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 27% higher in Chicago, IL, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,332 in Chicago, IL versus $1,633 in Cedarhurst, NY. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 7% higher in Chicago, IL. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $3,084 per month in Chicago, IL versus $2,614 in Cedarhurst, NY – a 18% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Cedarhurst, NY is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

Both work as nomad bases, but Cedarhurst, NY delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,614 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Cedarhurst, NY hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Chicago, IL and Cedarhurst, NY are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Cedarhurst, NY gentler on the wallet – expenses run 18% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.