Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Ellensburg, WA Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Ellensburg, WA

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 22.9% more expensive than Ellensburg, WA without rent, and 62.4% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 37.2% more expensive than Ellensburg, WA without rent, and 55.2% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$14.79 $14.79

40.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$98.8 $98.8

1.53%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$12.18 $12.18

-1.72%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$5.36 $5.36

3.73%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$1.53 $1.53

103.27%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.26 $1.26

92.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$5.11 $5.11

34.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$7.79 $7.79

8.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.11 $1.11

-6.31%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$2.81 $2.81

47.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$4.78 $4.78

15.48%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$4.1 $4.1

13.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$15.18 $15.18

-5.60%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$6.53 $6.53

127.87%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$13.83 $13.83

39.84%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$3.84 $3.84

34.64%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.13 $1.13

51.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$4.43 $4.43

-0.45%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$4.14 $4.14

8.94%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.55 $1.55

63.23%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.16 $2.16

26.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.96 $1.96

23.98%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$1.68 $1.68

60.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$7.89 $7.89

92.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$14.28 $14.28

14.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$3.01 $3.01

-21.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$2.53 $2.53

46.25%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.02 $2.02

25.25%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$2.62 $2.62

27.48%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.71 $1.71

-16.96%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$29.83 $29.83

-14.78%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$32.1K $32.1K

0.98%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$25.6K $25.6K

2.23%

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

$188 $188

$123 $123

52.52%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$39.54 $39.54

61.10%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$70.8 $70.8

-7.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$25.47 $25.47

201.22%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$15.81 $15.81

-5.57%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$2,281 $2,281

-9.58%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$29.6K $29.6K

32.22%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$45.07 $45.07

42.69%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$35.25 $35.25

48.62%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$90.9 $90.9

4.74%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$116 $116

24.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$949 $949

150.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$793 $793

99.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$1,863 $1,863

155.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$1,500 $1,500

87.64%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$4,475 $4,475

-19.82%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$4,376 $4,376

-43.09%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$1,773 $1,773

197.46%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.42

2.80%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Ellensburg, WA: October 29, 2025

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