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

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 26.7% more expensive than Germantown, MD without rent, and 2.5% cheaper with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 7.9% more expensive than Germantown, MD without rent, and 19.7% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$19.74 $19.74

5.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$78.4 $78.4

27.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$11.79 $11.79

1.53%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$5.14 $5.14

8.17%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.52 $2.52

23.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.01 $2.01

20.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$5.89 $5.89

16.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$8.18 $8.18

3.30%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$0.78 $0.78

33.33%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$4.12 $4.12

0.73%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$4.51 $4.51

22.39%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$2.94 $2.94

58.16%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$13.21 $13.21

8.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$8.78 $8.78

69.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$13.05 $13.05

48.20%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$6.41 $6.41

-19.34%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.13 $1.13

51.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$4.51 $4.51

-2.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$5.97 $5.97

-24.46%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.18 $2.18

16.06%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$3.76 $3.76

-27.13%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.04 $2.04

19.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$2.05 $2.05

31.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$8.86 $8.86

71.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$20.07 $20.07

-18.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.75 $1.75

34.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$3.08 $3.08

20.13%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.48 $2.48

2.02%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

$87.4 $87.4

-15.16%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$3.55 $3.55

-5.92%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.59 $1.59

-10.69%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$22.14 $22.14

14.81%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.85 $0.85

27.06%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$29.4K $29.4K

10.14%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$23.4K $23.4K

12.11%

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

$188 $188

$183 $183

3.03%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$50.6 $50.6

25.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$56.3 $56.3

15.79%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$42.19 $42.19

81.84%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$15.03 $15.03

-0.67%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,882 $1,882

9.61%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$40K $40K

-2.08%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$45.83 $45.83

40.32%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$40.21 $40.21

30.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$88.6 $88.6

7.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$150 $150

-3.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$2,183 $2,183

8.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,802 $1,802

-12.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$2,589 $2,589

83.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$2,255 $2,255

24.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$3,004 $3,004

19.45%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$2,464 $2,464

1.07%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$4,967 $4,967

6.21%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.55

0.76%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Germantown, MD: October 28, 2025

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