Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Doylestown, PA Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Doylestown, PA

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,111 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,097 in Doylestown, PA, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,680 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,453 in Doylestown, PA, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,249 per month in Chicago, IL vs $5,809 in Doylestown, PA, rent included.

Chicago, IL and Doylestown, PA have comparable living costs – the differences are in the details.

Both Chicago, IL and Doylestown, PA sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 131%, Doylestown, PA by 130%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.39 $20.39

$19.61 $19.61

3.98%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.2 $98.2

$54.4 $54.4

80.65%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.07 $12.07

$12.21 $12.21

-1.15%

Cappuccino

$5.73 $5.73

$4.80 $4.80

19.38%

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

$2.97 $2.97

$2.56 $2.56

16.02%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$1.94 $1.94

27.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.99 $6.99

$6.54 $6.54

6.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.21 $8.21

$6.83 $6.83

20.20%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$1.08 $1.08

-2.78%

White Bread (500g)

$4.08 $4.08

$3.66 $3.66

11.48%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.50 $5.50

$6.07 $6.07

-9.39%

Eggs

$4.64 $4.64

$2.39 $2.39

94.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.40 $14.40

$16.01 $16.01

-10.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.20 $15.20

$17.35 $17.35

-12.39%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.28 $19.28

$17.56 $17.56

9.79%

Apples (1kg)

$5.14 $5.14

$7.58 $7.58

-32.19%

Banana (1kg)

$1.76 $1.76

$2.07 $2.07

-14.98%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.34 $4.34

$9.38 $9.38

-53.73%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.36 $4.36

$5.76 $5.76

-24.31%

Potato (1kg)

$2.44 $2.44

$4.85 $4.85

-49.69%

Onion (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$3.76 $3.76

-25.80%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.52 $2.52

$2.57 $2.57

-1.95%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.66 $2.66

$2.01 $2.01

32.34%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.90 $14.90

$11.15 $11.15

33.63%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.97 $14.97

$15.29 $15.29

-2.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.45 $2.45

$1.76 $1.76

39.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.54 $3.54

$3.77 $3.77

-6.10%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.01 $2.01

20.90%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.5 $74.5

$39.71 $39.71

87.69%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.32 $3.32

$5.88 $5.88

-43.54%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.38 $1.38

$1.53 $1.53

-9.80%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.11 $25.11

$41.39 $41.39

-39.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.83 $0.83

31.33%

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

$31.9K $31.9K

$29.6K $29.6K

7.64%

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

$26.8K $26.8K

$25.9K $25.9K

3.66%

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

$187 $187

$147 $147

27.46%

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

$63.5 $63.5

$51.0 $51.0

24.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.5 $65.5

$54.9 $54.9

19.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.7 $75.7

$27.96 $27.96

170.71%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.05 $13.05

Cinema Ticket

$14.80 $14.80

$13.10 $13.10

12.98%

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

$2,025 $2,025

$713 $713

183.84%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.0K $39.0K

$10.8K $10.8K

262.02%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.2 $64.2

$55.4 $55.4

15.88%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.7 $51.7

$32.09 $32.09

61.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.6 $95.6

$87.8 $87.8

8.92%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$83.3 $83.3

74.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,326 $2,326

$1,734 $1,734

34.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,611 $1,611

$1,796 $1,796

-10.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,703 $4,703

$2,989 $2,989

57.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,721 $2,721

$2,940 $2,940

-7.45%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,829 $3,829

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,533 $2,533

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,100 $5,100

$2,541 $2,541

100.69%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.55

0.76%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: June 7, 2026

Last update for Doylestown, PA: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,326 in Chicago, IL versus $1,734 in Doylestown, PA. 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 101% higher in Chicago, IL. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $98.0 in Chicago, IL versus $54.0 in Doylestown, PA. Groceries tell a different story – $448 in Chicago, IL vs $489 in Doylestown, PA – so Chicago, IL wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Doylestown, PA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,666 per month in Chicago, IL and $4,646 in Doylestown, PA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Doylestown, PA, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $98.0 in Chicago, IL and $54.0 in Doylestown, PA. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Public transport costs about 88% less in Doylestown, PA. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,111 in Chicago, IL and $3,097 in Doylestown, PA. 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 $3,097 in Doylestown, PA to $3,111 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

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