Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Chelan, WA Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Chelan, WA

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,077 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,574 in Chelan, WA, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,628 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,750 in Chelan, WA, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,179 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,926 in Chelan, WA, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 20% more than Chelan, WA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chicago, IL and Chelan, WA sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 130%, Chelan, WA by 92%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.91 $20.91

$16.20 $16.20

29.07%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.1 $98.1

$73.7 $73.7

33.13%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.86 $11.86

$12.26 $12.26

-3.26%

Cappuccino

$5.60 $5.60

$6.00 $6.00

-6.67%

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

$3.07 $3.07

$2.85 $2.85

7.72%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.24 $2.24

10.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.14 $7.14

$7.32 $7.32

-2.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.08 $8.08

$12.20 $12.20

-33.77%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$1.07 $1.07

-1.87%

White Bread (500g)

$4.11 $4.11

$3.23 $3.23

27.24%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.61 $5.61

$4.48 $4.48

25.22%

Eggs

$4.51 $4.51

$4.79 $4.79

-5.85%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.27 $14.27

$10.80 $10.80

32.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.89 $14.89

$6.48 $6.48

129.78%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.19 $19.19

$10.85 $10.85

76.87%

Apples (1kg)

$5.14 $5.14

$4.36 $4.36

17.89%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 $1.77

$1.65 $1.65

7.27%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.39 $4.39

$4.43 $4.43

-0.90%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.56 $4.56

$4.31 $4.31

5.80%

Potato (1kg)

$2.54 $2.54

$2.16 $2.16

17.59%

Onion (1kg)

$2.75 $2.75

$2.16 $2.16

27.31%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.92 $1.92

26.04%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$2.56 $2.56

2.34%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.92 $14.92

$8.95 $8.95

66.70%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.80 $14.80

$9.95 $9.95

48.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$1.75 $1.75

40.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 $3.73

$5.06 $5.06

-26.28%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.48 $2.48

$2.04 $2.04

21.57%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.4 $75.4

$60.4 $60.4

24.82%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.18 $3.18

$2.68 $2.68

18.66%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.63 $1.63

-12.88%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.94 $24.94

$30.20 $30.20

-17.42%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.06 $1.06

$1.07 $1.07

-0.93%

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

$31.9K $31.9K

$35.4K $35.4K

-9.83%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$26.8K $26.8K

-3.01%

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

$185 $185

$234 $234

-20.98%

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

$61.7 $61.7

$71.1 $71.1

-13.14%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.9 $66.9

$49.25 $49.25

35.88%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.2 $75.2

$43.85 $43.85

71.43%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.08 $13.08

$10.03 $10.03

30.41%

Cinema Ticket

$14.71 $14.71

$12.17 $12.17

20.87%

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

$2,020 $2,020

$2,080 $2,080

-2.85%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.4K $39.4K

$31.1K $31.1K

26.85%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.6 $64.6

$39.31 $39.31

64.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.5 $52.5

$24.89 $24.89

110.73%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.8 $97.8

$60.5 $60.5

61.58%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$148 $148

$98.4 $98.4

49.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,313 $2,313

$1,590 $1,590

45.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,590 $1,590

$1,329 $1,329

19.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,608 $4,608

$2,610 $2,610

76.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,779 $2,779

$2,243 $2,243

23.91%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,922 $3,922

$2,902 $2,902

35.16%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,613 $2,613

$2,185 $2,185

19.55%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,217 $5,217

$4,059 $4,059

28.55%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

10.00%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: May 30, 2026

Last update for Chelan, WA: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,313 in Chicago, IL versus $1,590 in Chelan, WA. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 29% higher in Chicago, IL, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $98.0 in Chicago, IL versus $74.0 in Chelan, WA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $447 vs $336 – making Chelan, WA the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Chelan, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chicago, IL costs about 20% more than Chelan, WA, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,616 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,861 in Chelan, WA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Chelan, WA, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $98.0 in Chicago, IL and $74.0 in Chelan, WA. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,077 in Chicago, IL and $2,574 in Chelan, WA. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,077 in Chicago, IL and $2,574 in Chelan, WA. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chelan, WA costs $2,574 versus $3,077 in Chicago, IL. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

If budget matters most, go with Chelan, WA. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chicago, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.