Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and College Park, MD Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and College Park, MD

๐Ÿ™‚ Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 2.9% cheaper than College Park, MD without rent, and 2.5% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 30.3% more expensive than College Park, MD without rent, and 7.2% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chicago, IL
College Park, MD
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$19.83 $19.83
4.99%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$80.2 $80.2
25.07%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$13.29 $13.29
-9.93%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$5.37 $5.37
3.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.84 $2.84
9.51%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$2.24 $2.24
8.04%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$6.17 $6.17
11.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$7.6 $7.6
11.18%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
College Park, MD
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$0.97 $0.97
7.22%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$3.35 $3.35
23.88%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$7.22 $7.22
-23.55%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$5.02 $5.02
-7.37%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$19.05 $19.05
-24.78%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$10.2 $10.2
45.88%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$16.78 $16.78
15.26%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$6.21 $6.21
-16.75%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.82 $1.82
-6.04%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$8.26 $8.26
-46.61%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$6.43 $6.43
-29.86%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$4.84 $4.84
-47.73%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$3.75 $3.75
-26.93%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.3 $2.3
5.65%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.5 $2.5
8.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$11.56 $11.56
31.40%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$13.76 $13.76
19.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.76 $1.76
33.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$3.69 $3.69
0.27%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chicago, IL
College Park, MD
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$1.95 $1.95
29.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$4.42 $4.42
-24.43%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.51 $1.51
-5.96%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$28.75 $28.75
-11.58%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.83 $0.83
30.12%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$26.4K $26.4K
22.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$24.3K $24.3K
7.86%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
College Park, MD
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$213 $213
-11.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$63.4 $63.4
0.50%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$73.3 $73.3
-11.00%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
College Park, MD
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$39.6 $39.6
93.74%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$14.8 $14.8
0.88%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
College Park, MD
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,746 $1,746
18.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$24.1K $24.1K
62.71%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
College Park, MD
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$53.3 $53.3
20.59%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$32.85 $32.85
59.48%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$95.2 $95.2
0.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$182 $182
-20.69%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
College Park, MD
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,616 $1,616
47.17%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,598 $1,598
-0.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$3,563 $3,563
33.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$2,712 $2,712
3.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$3,016 $3,016
18.97%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,508 $2,508
-0.70%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
College Park, MD
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$5,576 $5,576
-5.40%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.57
0.46%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for College Park, MD: October 27, 2025

Join the CityCost newsletter โ€“ low traffic, no spam, and easy to unsubscribe. Your email stays private.