Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Elmira, NY Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Elmira, NY

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 25.9% more expensive than Elmira, NY without rent, and 55.6% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 39.9% more expensive than Elmira, NY without rent, and 76.2% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Elmira, NY
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$8.26 $8.26
152.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$85.6 $85.6
17.29%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$11.97 $11.97
-
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$4.87 $4.87
14.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.39 $2.39
30.13%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$1.49 $1.49
62.42%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$4.11 $4.11
66.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$4.97 $4.97
70.02%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Elmira, NY
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$0.78 $0.78
33.33%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$2.52 $2.52
64.68%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$4.96 $4.96
11.29%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$2.69 $2.69
72.86%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$13.32 $13.32
7.58%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$8.46 $8.46
75.89%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$11.88 $11.88
62.79%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$4.08 $4.08
26.72%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.62 $1.62
5.56%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$5.48 $5.48
-19.53%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$5.07 $5.07
-11.05%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.5 $2.5
1.20%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$3.66 $3.66
-25.14%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.48 $2.48
-2.02%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.52 $2.52
7.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$12.94 $12.94
17.39%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$15.17 $15.17
8.24%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.69 $1.69
39.05%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$3.45 $3.45
7.25%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Elmira, NY
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.05 $2.05
23.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$5.45 $5.45
-38.72%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$2.18 $2.18
-34.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$45.21 $45.21
-43.77%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.81 $0.81
33.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$32.9K $32.9K
-1.53%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$24.4K $24.4K
7.66%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Elmira, NY
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$148 $148
27.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$46.04 $46.04
38.36%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$61.1 $61.1
6.64%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Elmira, NY
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$42.48 $42.48
80.60%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$12.13 $12.13
23.08%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Elmira, NY
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$889 $889
132.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$28.6K $28.6K
37.19%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Elmira, NY
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$38.49 $38.49
67.08%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$45.48 $45.48
15.19%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$82 $82
16.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$117 $117
23.75%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Elmira, NY
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,191 $1,191
99.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$870 $870
82.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$1,515 $1,515
214.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$1,088 $1,088
158.74%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$1,115 $1,115
221.67%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$1,118 $1,118
122.65%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Elmira, NY
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$8,366 $8,366
-36.95%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.53
1.07%

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 Elmira, NY: October 28, 2025

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