Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Fairbanks, AK Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Fairbanks, AK

🙂 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 18% cheaper than Fairbanks, AK without rent, and 4.2% cheaper with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 9.2% more expensive than Fairbanks, AK without rent, and 10.3% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$24.8 $24.8

-16.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$88.8 $88.8

12.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$14.1 $14.1

-15.11%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$6.02 $6.02

-7.64%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.85 $2.85

9.12%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.04 $2.04

18.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$7.8 $7.8

-12.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$9.91 $9.91

-14.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.14 $1.14

-8.77%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$5.31 $5.31

-21.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$5.3 $5.3

4.15%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$4.21 $4.21

10.45%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$17.96 $17.96

-20.21%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$16.97 $16.97

-12.32%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$21.32 $21.32

-9.29%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$7.76 $7.76

-33.38%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$2.82 $2.82

-39.36%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$6.65 $6.65

-33.68%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$7.09 $7.09

-36.39%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$3.77 $3.77

-32.89%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$4.79 $4.79

-42.80%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.99 $2.99

-18.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$1.97 $1.97

37.06%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$11.23 $11.23

35.26%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$15.1 $15.1

8.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.68 $1.68

39.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$0.97 $0.97

281.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.53 $1.53

65.36%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

$39.51 $39.51

87.62%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$3.54 $3.54

-5.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$2.15 $2.15

-33.95%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$45.29 $45.29

-43.87%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$1.04 $1.04

3.85%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$29.8K $29.8K

8.80%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$26K $26K

0.78%

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

$188 $188

$170 $170

10.68%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$59.9 $59.9

6.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$113 $113

-42.24%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$98.9 $98.9

-22.39%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$17.01 $17.01

-12.23%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,201 $1,201

71.80%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$23.3K $23.3K

68.32%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$60.3 $60.3

6.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$39.53 $39.53

32.53%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$85.7 $85.7

11.08%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$119 $119

21.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$1,620 $1,620

46.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,500 $1,500

5.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$2,263 $2,263

110.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$2,024 $2,024

39.08%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$1,927 $1,927

86.19%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$1,957 $1,957

27.23%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$3,802 $3,802

38.75%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.53

1.07%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Fairbanks, AK: October 27, 2025

Similar cities

Amsterdam

🇳🇱 Netherlands

Dallas, TX

🇺🇸 United States

Denver, CO

🇺🇸 United States

Miami, FL

🇺🇸 United States

San Diego, CA

🇺🇸 United States

Philadelphia, PA

🇺🇸 United States

Atlanta, GA

🇺🇸 United States

Minneapolis, MN

🇺🇸 United States