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: $3,077 in Chicago, IL versus $2,630 in Cedarhurst, NY.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,628 in Chicago, IL versus $3,916 in Cedarhurst, NY.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,179 in Chicago, IL versus $5,202 in Cedarhurst, NY.

Living in Chicago, IL is roughly 17% more expensive than Cedarhurst, NY, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 130% above, Cedarhurst, NY 96% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.91 $20.91

$16.86 $16.86

24.02%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.1 $98.1

$102 $102

-3.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.86 $11.86

$12.14 $12.14

-2.31%

Cappuccino

$5.60 $5.60

$5.35 $5.35

4.67%

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

$3.07 $3.07

$2.30 $2.30

33.48%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$1.60 $1.60

54.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.14 $7.14

$6.93 $6.93

3.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.08 $8.08

$7.17 $7.17

12.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$1.27 $1.27

-17.32%

White Bread (500g)

$4.11 $4.11

$4.21 $4.21

-2.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.61 $5.61

$5.24 $5.24

7.06%

Eggs

$4.51 $4.51

$4.86 $4.86

-7.20%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.27 $14.27

$13.79 $13.79

3.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.89 $14.89

$10.30 $10.30

44.56%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.19 $19.19

$17.46 $17.46

9.91%

Apples (1kg)

$5.14 $5.14

$4.84 $4.84

6.20%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 $1.77

Oranges (1kg)

$4.39 $4.39

$3.99 $3.99

10.03%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.56 $4.56

$4.30 $4.30

6.05%

Potato (1kg)

$2.54 $2.54

$2.78 $2.78

-8.63%

Onion (1kg)

$2.75 $2.75

$2.66 $2.66

3.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.47 $2.47

-2.02%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$2.65 $2.65

-1.13%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.92 $14.92

$14.23 $14.23

4.85%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.80 $14.80

$15.19 $15.19

-2.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$1.72 $1.72

43.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 $3.73

$4.35 $4.35

-14.25%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.48 $2.48

$1.97 $1.97

25.89%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.4 $75.4

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.18 $3.18

$3.01 $3.01

5.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$2.03 $2.03

-30.05%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.94 $24.94

$23.73 $23.73

5.10%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.06 $1.06

$0.96 $0.96

10.42%

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

$31.9K $31.9K

$23.3K $23.3K

36.81%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$25.1K $25.1K

3.65%

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

$185 $185

$202 $202

-8.60%

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

$61.7 $61.7

$44.19 $44.19

39.71%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.9 $66.9

$59.5 $59.5

12.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.2 $75.2

$43.10 $43.10

74.41%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.08 $13.08

Cinema Ticket

$14.71 $14.71

$16.68 $16.68

-11.81%

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

$2,020 $2,020

$1,769 $1,769

14.24%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.4K $39.4K

$16.2K $16.2K

143.05%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.6 $64.6

$50.7 $50.7

27.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.5 $52.5

$63.6 $63.6

-17.47%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.8 $97.8

$87.3 $87.3

12.00%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$148 $148

$99.0 $99.0

49.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,313 $2,313

$1,622 $1,622

42.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,590 $1,590

$1,329 $1,329

19.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,608 $4,608

$2,617 $2,617

76.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,779 $2,779

$2,256 $2,256

23.16%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,922 $3,922

$2,542 $2,542

54.26%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,613 $2,613

$2,583 $2,583

1.14%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,217 $5,217

$3,997 $3,997

30.55%

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: May 30, 2026

Last update for Cedarhurst, NY: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,313 in Chicago, IL and $1,622 in Cedarhurst, NY. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chicago, IL pays 31% 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: $98.0 in Chicago, IL vs $102 in Cedarhurst, NY. Groceries flip the comparison at $447 vs $416, 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 17% 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.

Chicago, IL pays 31% more on average, 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: $2,313 in Chicago, IL versus $1,622 in Cedarhurst, NY. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 8% higher in Chicago, IL. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $3,077 per month in Chicago, IL versus $2,630 in Cedarhurst, NY – a 17% 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 $2,630 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 17% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.