Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and East Providence, RI

For one person, living is cheaper in Chicago, IL: $3,037 a month against $3,134 in East Providence, RI, rent and utilities included – about $1,200 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in East Providence, RI outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

147

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
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Chicago, IL Living Index
150

Cost of Living Index in East Providence, RI
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East Providence, RI Living Index

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Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,037

/mo nomad

East Providence, RI

🇺🇸 United States

$3,134

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chicago, IL and in East Providence, RI

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 East Providence, RI actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,037 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,134 in East Providence, RI, rent included.

Chicago, IL $3,037
East Providence, RI $3,134

A couple spends around $4,518 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,320 in East Providence, RI, rent included.

Chicago, IL $4,518
East Providence, RI $4,320

A family of three spends $5,999 per month in Chicago, IL vs $5,507 in East Providence, RI, rent included.

Chicago, IL $5,999
East Providence, RI $5,507

Chicago, IL is about 3% cheaper than East Providence, RI, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in utilities.

Both Chicago, IL and East Providence, RI sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 123%, East Providence, RI by 130%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.71 $20.71

$19.77 $19.77

4.75%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$89.2 $89.2

$77.4 $77.4

15.31%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.19 $13.19

$13.72 $13.72

-3.86%

Cappuccino

$5.66 $5.66

$5.44 $5.44

4.04%

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

$2.64 $2.64

$2.86 $2.86

-7.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 $2.28

$2.53 $2.53

-9.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.87 $6.87

$5.99 $5.99

14.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.84 $8.84

$9.17 $9.17

-3.60%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.25 $1.25

$1.06 $1.06

17.92%

White Bread (500g)

$3.72 $3.72

$3.92 $3.92

-5.10%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$5.49 $5.49

-1.82%

Eggs

$4.74 $4.74

$4.83 $4.83

-1.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.84 $13.84

$11.39 $11.39

21.51%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.40 $14.40

$14.38 $14.38

0.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.38 $18.38

$17.49 $17.49

5.09%

Apples (1kg)

$5.22 $5.22

$5.48 $5.48

-4.74%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.78 $1.78

11.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.06 $4.06

$6.71 $6.71

-39.49%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.97 $4.97

$3.08 $3.08

61.36%

Potato (1kg)

$2.67 $2.67

$2.16 $2.16

23.61%

Onion (1kg)

$2.66 $2.66

$2.50 $2.50

6.40%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.24 $2.24

$2.63 $2.63

-14.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.13 $3.13

$2.89 $2.89

8.30%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.82 $13.82

$13.59 $13.59

1.69%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.88 $14.88

$13.97 $13.97

6.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.54 $2.54

$1.82 $1.82

39.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.51 $3.51

$2.86 $2.86

22.73%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.05 $2.05

18.54%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$73.5 $73.5

$57.7 $57.7

27.55%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.18 $3.18

$6.11 $6.11

-47.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.39 $1.39

$1.69 $1.69

-17.75%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.03 $25.03

$30.08 $30.08

-16.79%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 $1.20

$1.04 $1.04

15.38%

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

$35.0K $35.0K

$27.3K $27.3K

28.56%

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

$26.7K $26.7K

$26.8K $26.8K

-0.48%

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

$194 $194

$318 $318

-38.85%

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

$69.5 $69.5

$87.1 $87.1

-20.24%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.6 $61.6

$77.1 $77.1

-20.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.90 $47.90

$41.92 $41.92

14.27%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.34 $27.34

$58.0 $58.0

-52.84%

Cinema Ticket

$17.81 $17.81

$14.66 $14.66

21.49%

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

$1,794 $1,794

$1,805 $1,805

-0.61%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.9K $31.9K

$29.6K $29.6K

7.90%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.0 $67.0

$38.56 $38.56

73.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.1 $52.1

$16.11 $16.11

223.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 $102

$101 $101

0.15%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$144 $144

$89.1 $89.1

61.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,526 $2,526

$1,819 $1,819

38.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,578 $1,578

$1,626 $1,626

-2.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,738 $4,738

$2,586 $2,586

83.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,693 $2,693

$2,284 $2,284

17.89%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,190 $4,190

$2,680 $2,680

56.35%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,768 $2,768

$2,399 $2,399

15.38%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,931 $4,931

$6,302 $6,302

-21.77%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.81

6.51

4.61%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 25, 2026

Last update for East Providence, RI: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52%

East Providence, RI

$1.6K 51.9% 3% $48

Groceries & Markets

Chicago, IL

$447 14.7%

East Providence, RI

$429 13.7% 4% $18

Eating Out

Chicago, IL

$345 11.4%

East Providence, RI

$334 10.7% 3% $10

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chicago, IL

$326 10.7%

East Providence, RI

$482 15.4% 48.1% $157

Clothing & Footwear

Chicago, IL

$164 5.4%

East Providence, RI

$110 3.5% 32.7% $54

Getting Around

Chicago, IL

$93 3.1%

East Providence, RI

$80 2.6% 13.9% $13

Sport & Entertainment

Chicago, IL

$84 2.8%

East Providence, RI

$71 2.3% 14.7% $12

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,526 in Chicago, IL versus $1,819 in East Providence, RI. 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 28% higher in East Providence, RI. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89 in Chicago, IL versus $77 in East Providence, RI. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $447 vs $429 – making East Providence, RI the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 East Providence, RI

🕒 Local time

21:52 9:52 PM

22:52 10:52 PM

1 h ahead of Chicago, IL

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

2,746,388

49,123

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.898 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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Between locations

Chicago, IL East Providence, RI 1,340 km ≈ 2 h 15 min nonstop flight

From you

Chicago, IL
East Providence, RI

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 East Providence, RI: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,037 in Chicago, IL, $3,134 in East Providence, RI – Chicago, IL comes out roughly 3% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in utilities.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,555 per month in Chicago, IL and $4,700 in East Providence, RI. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in East Providence, RI, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,819 there versus $2,526 in Chicago, IL.

Interestingly, groceries are about 4% cheaper in East Providence, RI – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89 in Chicago, IL and $77 in East Providence, RI. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,037 in Chicago, IL and $3,134 in East Providence, RI. 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 $3,134 in East Providence, RI. 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, East Providence, RI makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.