Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Crystal Lake, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Crystal Lake, IL

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 3.5% more expensive than Crystal Lake, IL without rent, and 4.8% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 25.5% more expensive than Crystal Lake, IL without rent, and 21.9% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Crystal Lake, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$15.14 $15.14
37.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$75.5 $75.5
32.87%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$11.06 $11.06
8.23%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$5.27 $5.27
5.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.63 $2.63
18.25%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$2.34 $2.34
3.42%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$5.82 $5.82
17.87%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$7.19 $7.19
17.52%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Crystal Lake, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$0.92 $0.92
13.04%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$3.72 $3.72
11.56%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$5.29 $5.29
4.35%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$3.92 $3.92
18.62%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$13.73 $13.73
4.37%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$13.25 $13.25
12.30%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$16.35 $16.35
18.29%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$4.36 $4.36
18.58%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.47 $1.47
16.33%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$5.76 $5.76
-23.44%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$4.63 $4.63
-2.59%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.67 $2.67
-5.24%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$2.86 $2.86
-4.20%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$1.93 $1.93
25.91%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.05 $2.05
31.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$9.94 $9.94
52.82%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$12.12 $12.12
35.48%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$2.32 $2.32
1.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$4.79 $4.79
-22.76%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Crystal Lake, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.04 $2.04
24.02%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$4.56 $4.56
-26.75%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$2.14 $2.14
-33.64%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$41.81 $41.81
-39.20%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.89 $0.89
21.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$25K $25K
29.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$25.6K $25.6K
2.29%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Crystal Lake, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$218 $218
-13.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$50.3 $50.3
26.69%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$75.4 $75.4
-13.53%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Crystal Lake, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$42.18 $42.18
81.89%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$15.21 $15.21
-1.84%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Crystal Lake, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,649 $1,649
25.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$24.2K $24.2K
61.71%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Crystal Lake, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$65.6 $65.6
-1.89%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$48.71 $48.71
7.55%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$103 $103
-7.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$131 $131
10.34%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Crystal Lake, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,609 $1,609
47.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,592 $1,592
-0.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$2,642 $2,642
80.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$2,178 $2,178
29.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$2,593 $2,593
38.36%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,148 $2,148
15.95%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Crystal Lake, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.55
0.76%

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 Crystal Lake, IL: October 28, 2025

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