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: $3,068 in Chicago, IL versus $2,675 in Chandler, AZ.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,648 in Chicago, IL versus $4,013 in Chandler, AZ.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,229 in Chicago, IL versus $5,350 in Chandler, AZ.

Living in Chicago, IL is roughly 15% more expensive than in Chandler, AZ, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 130% above, Chandler, AZ 100% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.17 $20.17

$18.45 $18.45

9.32%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.5 $99.5

$74.9 $74.9

32.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.23 $12.23

$10.12 $10.12

20.85%

Cappuccino

$5.60 $5.60

$4.51 $4.51

24.17%

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

$3.12 $3.12

$2.84 $2.84

9.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.84 $1.84

32.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.93 $6.93

$6.03 $6.03

14.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.20 $8.20

$7.17 $7.17

14.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.85 $0.85

27.06%

White Bread (500g)

$3.97 $3.97

$3.24 $3.24

22.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.58 $5.58

$2.51 $2.51

122.31%

Eggs

$4.47 $4.47

$4.30 $4.30

3.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.50 $14.50

$11.10 $11.10

30.63%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.08 $15.08

$10.99 $10.99

37.22%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$15.19 $15.19

27.32%

Apples (1kg)

$5.37 $5.37

$3.56 $3.56

50.84%

Banana (1kg)

$1.76 $1.76

$1.53 $1.53

15.03%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.32 $4.32

$3.08 $3.08

40.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$3.87 $3.87

13.95%

Potato (1kg)

$2.54 $2.54

$2.41 $2.41

5.39%

Onion (1kg)

$2.70 $2.70

$2.53 $2.53

6.72%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.49 $2.49

$1.25 $1.25

99.20%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.60 $2.60

$1.42 $1.42

83.10%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.80 $14.80

$9.06 $9.06

63.36%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.18 $15.18

$13.55 $13.55

12.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$1.89 $1.89

30.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.60 $3.60

$2.47 $2.47

45.75%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.54 $2.54

$2.98 $2.98

-14.77%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$76.3 $76.3

$103 $103

-26.30%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.30 $3.30

$2.72 $2.72

21.32%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.38 $1.38

$1.35 $1.35

2.22%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.36 $25.36

$29.09 $29.09

-12.82%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.95 $0.95

14.74%

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

$31.6K $31.6K

0.24%

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

$26.6K $26.6K

$25.9K $25.9K

2.66%

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

$186 $186

$215 $215

-13.65%

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

$62.9 $62.9

$60.3 $60.3

4.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.2 $66.2

$79.5 $79.5

-16.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$77.6 $77.6

$31.15 $31.15

149.18%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.16 $13.16

$14.74 $14.74

-10.72%

Cinema Ticket

$14.74 $14.74

$10.91 $10.91

35.11%

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

$2,039 $2,039

$1,112 $1,112

83.44%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.9K $39.9K

$15.7K $15.7K

153.14%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.9 $63.9

$50.2 $50.2

27.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.2 $51.2

$38.55 $38.55

32.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$84.4 $84.4

12.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$144 $144

$106 $106

35.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,305 $2,305

$1,657 $1,657

39.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,575 $1,575

$1,428 $1,428

10.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,688 $4,688

$2,619 $2,619

79.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,737 $2,737

$2,542 $2,542

7.68%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,063 $4,063

$3,620 $3,620

12.24%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,696 $2,696

$3,453 $3,453

-21.93%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,019 $5,019

$4,986 $4,986

0.65%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.54

0.92%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: July 11, 2026

Last update for Chandler, AZ: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,305 in Chicago, IL and $1,657 in Chandler, AZ. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chicago, IL pays 1% 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 $75.0 in Chandler, AZ for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $448 vs $336 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, Sport & Entertainment. The 15% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 1% 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: $2,305 in Chicago, IL versus $1,657 in Chandler, AZ. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 33% 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 $75.0 versus $99.0 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 15% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.