Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Columbia, MD Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Columbia, MD

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 22.3% more expensive than Columbia, MD without rent, and 6.6% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 2.4% cheaper than Columbia, MD without rent, and 7.6% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$19.63 $19.63

6.06%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$78.5 $78.5

27.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$11.32 $11.32

5.74%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$5 $5

11.20%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.42 $2.42

28.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.18 $2.18

11.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$6.37 $6.37

7.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$7.9 $7.9

6.96%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.18 $1.18

-11.86%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$3.86 $3.86

7.51%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$4.53 $4.53

21.85%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$6.47 $6.47

-28.13%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$13.3 $13.3

7.74%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$9.81 $9.81

51.68%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$16.24 $16.24

19.09%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$6.99 $6.99

-26.04%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.32 $1.32

29.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$7.22 $7.22

-38.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$5.47 $5.47

-17.55%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.82 $2.82

-10.28%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$3.34 $3.34

-17.96%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.42 $2.42

0.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$2.63 $2.63

2.66%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$11.05 $11.05

37.47%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$16.71 $16.71

-1.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.69 $1.69

39.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$3.85 $3.85

-3.90%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.87 $1.87

35.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

$72.9 $72.9

1.66%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$1.75 $1.75

90.86%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.35 $1.35

5.19%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$23.55 $23.55

7.94%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.84 $0.84

28.57%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$25.3K $25.3K

28.39%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$24.3K $24.3K

7.93%

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

$188 $188

$173 $173

8.94%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$51.8 $51.8

22.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$74.8 $74.8

-12.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$49.84 $49.84

53.93%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

$19.91 $19.91

-34.56%

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$14.98 $14.98

-0.33%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,291 $1,291

59.76%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$33.1K $33.1K

18.53%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$51.8 $51.8

24.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$70.7 $70.7

-25.88%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$116 $116

-17.87%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$111 $111

30.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$2,060 $2,060

15.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,817 $1,817

-12.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$2,982 $2,982

59.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$2,663 $2,663

5.70%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$2,303 $2,303

55.78%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$2,251 $2,251

10.64%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$5,681 $5,681

-7.15%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.57

0.46%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Columbia, MD: October 29, 2025

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