Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Chandler, AZ

For one person, living is cheaper in Chandler, AZ: $2,773 a month against $3,139 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $4,400 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

152

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
Learn more

Chicago, IL Living Index
134

Cost of Living Index in Chandler, AZ
Learn more

Chandler, AZ Living Index

Jump to prices

Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,139

/mo nomad

Chandler, AZ

🇺🇸 United States

$2,773

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chicago, IL and in Chandler, AZ

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chicago, IL and in Chandler, AZ actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,139 in Chicago, IL versus $2,773 in Chandler, AZ.

Chicago, IL $3,139
Chandler, AZ $2,773

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,627 in Chicago, IL versus $3,994 in Chandler, AZ.

Chicago, IL $4,627
Chandler, AZ $3,994

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,115 in Chicago, IL versus $5,214 in Chandler, AZ.

Chicago, IL $6,115
Chandler, AZ $5,214

Living in Chicago, IL is roughly 13% more expensive than in Chandler, AZ, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 132% above, Chandler, AZ 105% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.65 $20.65

$15.17 $15.17

36.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$90.2 $90.2

$61.4 $61.4

47.00%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.94 $12.94

$10.94 $10.94

18.28%

Cappuccino

$5.60 $5.60

$4.60 $4.60

21.74%

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

$2.64 $2.64

$2.71 $2.71

-2.58%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.27 $2.27

$1.81 $1.81

25.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.98 $6.98

$5.87 $5.87

18.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.83 $8.83

$7.21 $7.21

22.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 $1.27

$0.85 $0.85

49.41%

White Bread (500g)

$3.80 $3.80

$3.38 $3.38

12.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.30 $5.30

$3.27 $3.27

62.08%

Eggs

$4.76 $4.76

$4.59 $4.59

3.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.96 $13.96

$13.49 $13.49

3.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.61 $14.61

$11.19 $11.19

30.56%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.77 $18.77

$16.82 $16.82

11.59%

Apples (1kg)

$5.19 $5.19

$3.70 $3.70

40.27%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.68 $1.68

17.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.93 $3.93

$3.32 $3.32

18.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.96 $4.96

$3.62 $3.62

37.02%

Potato (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$2.43 $2.43

13.58%

Onion (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$2.17 $2.17

27.19%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.22 $2.22

$1.28 $1.28

73.44%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.98 $2.98

$1.42 $1.42

109.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.02 $14.02

$10.68 $10.68

31.27%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.28 $15.28

$13.27 $13.27

15.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$1.92 $1.92

34.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.50 $3.50

$1.94 $1.94

80.41%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.47 $2.47

$4.02 $4.02

-38.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.8 $74.8

$106 $106

-29.47%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$2.71 $2.71

23.25%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.43 $1.43

$1.40 $1.40

2.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.32 $24.32

$29.12 $29.12

-16.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 $1.26

$1.14 $1.14

10.53%

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

$35.0K $35.0K

$28.3K $28.3K

23.73%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$26.7K $26.7K

-2.45%

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

$193 $193

$196 $196

-1.90%

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

$68.3 $68.3

$44.31 $44.31

54.03%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.3 $61.3

$70.1 $70.1

-12.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.1 $54.1

$31.44 $31.44

72.14%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.92 $27.92

$14.78 $14.78

88.90%

Cinema Ticket

$17.74 $17.74

$10.86 $10.86

63.35%

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

$1,652 $1,652

$1,108 $1,108

49.13%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.1K $31.1K

$15.9K $15.9K

95.94%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.1 $66.1

$49.73 $49.73

32.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.2 $51.2

$44.08 $44.08

16.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100 $100

$88.1 $88.1

13.71%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$141 $141

$116 $116

21.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,446 $2,446

$1,568 $1,568

56.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,678 $1,678

$1,518 $1,518

10.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,717 $4,717

$2,383 $2,383

97.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,795 $2,795

$2,500 $2,500

11.82%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,105 $4,105

$3,623 $3,623

13.31%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,650 $2,650

$3,386 $3,386

-21.73%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,866 $4,866

$5,012 $5,012

-2.91%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.81

6.3

8.10%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 19, 2026

Last update for Chandler, AZ: October 20, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Chicago, IL

$1.7K 53.5%

Chandler, AZ

$1.5K 54.7% 9.5% $160

Groceries & Markets

Chicago, IL

$449 14.3%

Chandler, AZ

$354 12.8% 21.1% $95

Eating Out

Chicago, IL

$343 10.9%

Chandler, AZ

$271 9.8% 21% $72

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chicago, IL

$322 10.3%

Chandler, AZ

$311 11.2% 3.5% $11

Clothing & Footwear

Chicago, IL

$161 5.1%

Chandler, AZ

$134 4.8% 16.9% $27

Getting Around

Chicago, IL

$95 3%

Chandler, AZ

$132 4.8% 38.5% $37

Sport & Entertainment

Chicago, IL

$90 2.9%

Chandler, AZ

$53 1.9% 40.7% $36

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,446 in Chicago, IL and $1,568 in Chandler, AZ. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chandler, AZ pays 3% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $90.0 in Chicago, IL vs $61.0 in Chandler, AZ for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $449 vs $354 per month, with Chandler, AZ cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 Chandler, AZ

🕒 Local time

15:31 3:31 PM

13:31 1:31 PM

2 h behind Chicago, IL

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

2,746,388

248,631

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Chicago, IL Chandler, AZ 2,330 km ≈ 3 h 30 min nonstop flight

From you

Chicago, IL
Chandler, AZ

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Chandler, AZ: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chandler, AZ is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and clothing. The 13% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 3% lower in Chandler, AZ. 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: $2,446 in Chicago, IL versus $1,568 in Chandler, AZ. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 27% higher in Chicago, IL. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Chandler, AZ – a meal for two runs $61.0 versus $90.0 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. Chandler, AZ is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

For families, Chandler, AZ 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 Chandler, AZ gentler on the wallet – expenses run 13% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.