Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Cottonwood, AZ Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Cottonwood, AZ

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 35.1% more expensive than Cottonwood, AZ without rent, and 18.8% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 50% more expensive than Cottonwood, AZ without rent, and 25.6% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Cottonwood, AZ
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$18.08 $18.08
15.15%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$60.9 $60.9
64.82%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$9.87 $9.87
21.28%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$4.53 $4.53
22.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.05 $2.05
51.71%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$2.02 $2.02
19.80%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$5.85 $5.85
17.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$5.04 $5.04
67.66%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Cottonwood, AZ
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.09 $1.09
-4.59%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$3.48 $3.48
19.25%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$4.13 $4.13
33.66%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$3.66 $3.66
27.05%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$11.35 $11.35
26.26%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$7.54 $7.54
97.35%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$22.59 $22.59
-14.39%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$3.39 $3.39
52.51%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.34 $1.34
27.61%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$3.53 $3.53
24.93%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$4.25 $4.25
6.12%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.89 $2.89
-12.46%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$2.41 $2.41
13.69%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$2 $2
21.50%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$3.23 $3.23
-16.41%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$8.74 $8.74
73.80%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$10.34 $10.34
58.80%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.94 $1.94
21.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$2.57 $2.57
43.97%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Cottonwood, AZ
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$1.97 $1.97
28.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$3.43 $3.43
-2.62%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.4 $1.4
1.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$28.93 $28.93
-12.13%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$1.02 $1.02
5.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$33.4K $33.4K
-3.00%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$25.8K $25.8K
1.65%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Cottonwood, AZ
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$204 $204
-7.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$59.1 $59.1
7.71%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$75.4 $75.4
-13.52%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Cottonwood, AZ
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$43.81 $43.81
75.12%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$15.03 $15.03
-0.67%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Cottonwood, AZ
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,209 $1,209
70.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$23.3K $23.3K
68.24%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Cottonwood, AZ
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$45.33 $45.33
41.87%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$52.2 $52.2
0.38%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$68.1 $68.1
39.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$166 $166
-13.07%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Cottonwood, AZ
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,612 $1,612
47.46%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,349 $1,349
17.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$2,649 $2,649
79.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$2,237 $2,237
25.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$2,801 $2,801
28.09%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,417 $2,417
3.04%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Cottonwood, AZ
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$2,784 $2,784
89.45%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6
10.00%

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 Cottonwood, AZ: October 28, 2025

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