Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Chicago, IL: $3,037 a month against $3,340 in College Park, MD, rent and utilities included – about $3,600 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in College Park, MD outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

147

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
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Chicago, IL Living Index
162

Cost of Living Index in College Park, MD
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College Park, MD Living Index

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Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,037

/mo nomad

College Park, MD

🇺🇸 United States

$3,340

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chicago, IL and in College Park, MD

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 College Park, MD actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,037 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,340 in College Park, MD, rent included.

Chicago, IL $3,037
College Park, MD $3,340

A couple spends around $4,518 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,574 in College Park, MD, rent included.

Chicago, IL $4,518
College Park, MD $4,574

A family of three spends $5,999 per month in Chicago, IL vs $5,807 in College Park, MD, rent included.

Chicago, IL $5,999
College Park, MD $5,807

Chicago, IL is about 9% cheaper than College Park, MD.

Both Chicago, IL and College Park, MD sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 123%, College Park, MD by 145%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.71 $20.71

$15.75 $15.75

31.49%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$89.2 $89.2

$71.4 $71.4

24.99%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.19 $13.19

$9.81 $9.81

34.45%

Cappuccino

$5.66 $5.66

$4.41 $4.41

28.34%

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

$2.64 $2.64

$2.69 $2.69

-1.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 $2.28

$1.74 $1.74

31.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.87 $6.87

$6.31 $6.31

8.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.84 $8.84

$5.97 $5.97

48.07%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.25 $1.25

$0.84 $0.84

48.81%

White Bread (500g)

$3.72 $3.72

$2.50 $2.50

48.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$5.42 $5.42

-0.55%

Eggs

$4.74 $4.74

$2.08 $2.08

127.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.84 $13.84

$6.38 $6.38

116.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.40 $14.40

$6.49 $6.49

121.88%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.38 $18.38

$19.86 $19.86

-7.45%

Apples (1kg)

$5.22 $5.22

$6.40 $6.40

-18.44%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.27 $1.27

55.91%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.06 $4.06

$7.43 $7.43

-45.36%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.97 $4.97

$5.50 $5.50

-9.64%

Potato (1kg)

$2.67 $2.67

$4.90 $4.90

-45.51%

Onion (1kg)

$2.66 $2.66

$3.37 $3.37

-21.07%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.24 $2.24

$0.99 $0.99

126.26%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.13 $3.13

$3.12 $3.12

0.32%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.82 $13.82

$9.66 $9.66

43.06%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.88 $14.88

$12.01 $12.01

23.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.54 $2.54

$1.75 $1.75

45.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.51 $3.51

$3.67 $3.67

-4.36%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.43 $2.43

$3.06 $3.06

-20.59%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$73.5 $73.5

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.18 $3.18

$4.07 $4.07

-21.87%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.39 $1.39

$1.97 $1.97

-29.44%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.03 $25.03

$24.59 $24.59

1.79%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 $1.20

$0.98 $0.98

22.45%

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

$35.0K $35.0K

$29.8K $29.8K

17.42%

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

$26.7K $26.7K

$26.2K $26.2K

1.83%

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

$194 $194

$240 $240

-18.89%

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

$69.5 $69.5

$50.3 $50.3

38.10%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.6 $61.6

$68.6 $68.6

-10.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.90 $47.90

$39.41 $39.41

21.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.34 $27.34

Cinema Ticket

$17.81 $17.81

$14.93 $14.93

19.29%

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

$1,794 $1,794

$2,016 $2,016

-11.01%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.9K $31.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.0 $67.0

$47.66 $47.66

40.62%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.1 $52.1

$32.48 $32.48

60.53%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 $102

$117 $117

-13.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$144 $144

$136 $136

6.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,526 $2,526

$2,304 $2,304

9.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,578 $1,578

$2,093 $2,093

-24.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,738 $4,738

$3,930 $3,930

20.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,693 $2,693

$3,113 $3,113

-13.50%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,190 $4,190

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,768 $2,768

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,931 $4,931

$6,262 $6,262

-21.26%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.81

6.23

9.31%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 25, 2026

Last update for College Park, MD: October 27, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52%

College Park, MD

$2.1K 62.7% 32.6% $515

Groceries & Markets

Chicago, IL

$447 14.7%

College Park, MD

$374 11.2% 16.3% $73

Eating Out

Chicago, IL

$345 11.4%

College Park, MD

$270 8.1% 21.8% $75

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chicago, IL

$326 10.7%

College Park, MD

$359 10.7% 10.2% $33

Clothing & Footwear

Chicago, IL

$164 5.4%

College Park, MD

$150 4.5% 8.7% $14

Getting Around

Chicago, IL

$93 3.1%

College Park, MD

$26 * 0.8% 72% $67

Sport & Entertainment

Chicago, IL

$84 2.8%

College Park, MD

$69 2.1% 17.1% $14

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,526 in Chicago, IL versus $2,304 in College Park, MD. 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 27% higher in College Park, MD. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89 in Chicago, IL versus $71 in College Park, MD. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $447 vs $374 – making College Park, MD the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 College Park, MD

🕒 Local time

21:14 9:14 PM

22:14 10:14 PM

1 h ahead of Chicago, IL

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

2,746,388

34,740

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.898 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

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Between locations

Chicago, IL College Park, MD 960 km ≈ 1 h 45 min nonstop flight

From you

Chicago, IL
College Park, MD

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 College Park, MD: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,555 per month in Chicago, IL and $5,011 in College Park, MD. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A central 1-bedroom goes for about $2,526 in Chicago, IL and $2,304 in College Park, MD. The gap holds across neighborhoods – outer areas show a similar spread, just at lower price points.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89 in Chicago, IL and $71 in College Park, MD. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 16% cheaper in College Park, MD – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,037 in Chicago, IL and $3,340 in College Park, MD. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $3,037 in Chicago, IL to $3,340 in College Park, MD. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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