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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,106 in Chicago, IL versus $2,819 in Chandler, AZ.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,599 in Chicago, IL versus $3,995 in Chandler, AZ.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,092 in Chicago, IL versus $5,170 in Chandler, AZ.

Living in Chicago, IL is roughly 10% more expensive than in Chandler, AZ, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 126% above, Chandler, AZ 105% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.86 $19.86

$15.26 $15.26

30.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.3 $88.3

$62.9 $62.9

40.53%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.23 $13.23

$11.14 $11.14

18.76%

Cappuccino

$5.86 $5.86

$4.67 $4.67

25.48%

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

$2.61 $2.61

$2.69 $2.69

-2.97%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 $2.32

$1.84 $1.84

26.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.03 $7.03

$5.86 $5.86

19.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.25 $9.25

$7.26 $7.26

27.41%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$0.78 $0.78

71.79%

White Bread (500g)

$4.19 $4.19

$3.28 $3.28

27.74%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.50 $5.50

$3.15 $3.15

74.60%

Eggs

$4.71 $4.71

$4.52 $4.52

4.20%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.72 $14.72

$13.48 $13.48

9.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.53 $14.53

$11.28 $11.28

28.81%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.69 $19.69

$17.10 $17.10

15.15%

Apples (1kg)

$5.64 $5.64

$3.71 $3.71

52.02%

Banana (1kg)

$1.97 $1.97

$1.65 $1.65

19.39%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.04 $4.04

$3.25 $3.25

24.31%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.07 $5.07

$3.68 $3.68

37.77%

Potato (1kg)

$2.94 $2.94

$2.41 $2.41

21.99%

Onion (1kg)

$2.92 $2.92

$2.18 $2.18

33.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.28 $2.28

$1.30 $1.30

75.38%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.12 $3.12

$1.42 $1.42

119.72%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$16.19 $16.19

$9.95 $9.95

62.71%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.17 $15.17

$13.74 $13.74

10.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.67 $2.67

$1.83 $1.83

45.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.48 $3.48

$1.97 $1.97

76.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.54 $2.54

$4.06 $4.06

-37.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$76.0 $76.0

$104 $104

-26.94%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.16 $3.16

$2.78 $2.78

13.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.37 $1.37

$1.34 $1.34

2.24%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.66 $22.66

$29.53 $29.53

-23.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 $1.20

$1.08 $1.08

11.11%

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

$37.0K $37.0K

$31.9K $31.9K

15.93%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$24.6K $24.6K

5.88%

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

$190 $190

$195 $195

-2.82%

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

$68.5 $68.5

$44.50 $44.50

53.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.1 $61.1

$72.1 $72.1

-15.30%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.8 $63.8

$31.70 $31.70

101.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.80 $27.80

$14.75 $14.75

88.47%

Cinema Ticket

$18.28 $18.28

$10.72 $10.72

70.52%

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

$1,525 $1,525

$1,080 $1,080

41.13%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$32.0K $32.0K

$15.9K $15.9K

101.88%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.0 $64.0

$51.2 $51.2

25.16%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.4 $54.4

$44.30 $44.30

22.80%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 $101

$88.3 $88.3

13.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$153 $153

$116 $116

31.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,421 $2,421

$1,538 $1,538

57.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,690 $1,690

$1,538 $1,538

9.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,584 $4,584

$2,477 $2,477

85.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,782 $2,782

$2,524 $2,524

10.23%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,170 $4,170

$3,629 $3,629

14.89%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,739 $2,739

$3,453 $3,453

-20.69%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,777 $4,777

$5,000 $5,000

-4.46%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.38

5.97

6.87%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: August 29, 2026

Last update for Chandler, AZ: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,421 in Chicago, IL and $1,538 in Chandler, AZ. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chandler, AZ pays 5% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $88.0 in Chicago, IL vs $63.0 in Chandler, AZ for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $465 vs $354 per month, with Chandler, AZ 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 Chandler, AZ: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chandler, AZ is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 10% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 5% 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: $2,421 in Chicago, IL versus $1,538 in Chandler, AZ. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 32% 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 $63.0 versus $88.0 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 10% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.