Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Gaithersburg, MD Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Gaithersburg, MD

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 5.5% more expensive than Gaithersburg, MD without rent, and 7.9% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 4.2% more expensive than Gaithersburg, MD without rent, and 17.4% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$19.81 $19.81

5.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$99.1 $99.1

1.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$6.84 $6.84

75.00%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$3.88 $3.88

43.30%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.34 $2.34

32.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.11 $1.11

118.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$6.66 $6.66

3.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$7.69 $7.69

9.88%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$0.93 $0.93

11.83%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$3.63 $3.63

14.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$6.73 $6.73

-17.98%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$6.62 $6.62

-29.76%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$11.01 $11.01

30.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$17.57 $17.57

-15.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$21.63 $21.63

-10.59%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$7.57 $7.57

-31.70%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$2.82 $2.82

-39.36%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$7.93 $7.93

-44.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$8.29 $8.29

-45.60%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$4.67 $4.67

-45.82%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$3.77 $3.77

-27.32%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.74 $2.74

-11.31%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$2.02 $2.02

33.66%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$8.11 $8.11

87.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$13.69 $13.69

19.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.76 $1.76

33.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$3.73 $3.73

-0.80%

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

$4.39 $4.39

-23.92%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.39 $1.39

2.16%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$28.66 $28.66

-11.30%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.82 $0.82

31.71%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$26.5K $26.5K

22.45%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$24.5K $24.5K

7.17%

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

$188 $188

$130 $130

45.17%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$52.3 $52.3

21.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$55.3 $55.3

17.86%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$29.61 $29.61

159.10%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$15.49 $15.49

-3.62%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,178 $1,178

75.03%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$23.7K $23.7K

65.18%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$46.9 $46.9

37.12%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$19.93 $19.93

162.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$81.5 $81.5

16.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$122 $122

19.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$1,768 $1,768

34.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,604 $1,604

-1.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$2,224 $2,224

114.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$2,405 $2,405

17.06%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$2,511 $2,511

42.87%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$2,602 $2,602

-4.29%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$5,892 $5,892

-10.47%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.57

0.46%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Gaithersburg, MD: October 28, 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