Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Hartford, CT Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Hartford, CT

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 0.5% more expensive than Hartford, CT without rent, and 17.8% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 6% more expensive than Hartford, CT without rent, and 19.7% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$25.47 $25.47

-18.26%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$101 $101

-0.99%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$12.12 $12.12

-1.24%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$4.2 $4.2

32.38%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.68 $2.68

16.04%

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

$6.63 $6.63

3.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$8.07 $8.07

4.71%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.23 $1.23

-15.45%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$4.34 $4.34

-4.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$5.21 $5.21

5.95%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$4.61 $4.61

0.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$17.69 $17.69

-18.99%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$12.88 $12.88

15.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$14.45 $14.45

33.84%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$6.96 $6.96

-25.72%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.86 $1.86

-8.06%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$5.75 $5.75

-23.30%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$5.93 $5.93

-23.95%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$3.24 $3.24

-21.91%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$3.51 $3.51

-21.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.45 $2.45

-0.82%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$2.2 $2.2

22.73%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$14.26 $14.26

6.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$14.91 $14.91

10.13%

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

$2.47 $2.47

49.80%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.23 $1.23

105.69%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$5.1 $5.1

-34.51%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$2.03 $2.03

-30.05%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$42.42 $42.42

-40.08%

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

$28.3K $28.3K

14.54%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$25.5K $25.5K

2.96%

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

$188 $188

$181 $181

4.04%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$52.3 $52.3

21.80%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$62.8 $62.8

3.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$49.37 $49.37

55.40%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

$30.28 $30.28

-56.97%

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$12.86 $12.86

16.10%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,285 $1,285

60.53%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$33.3K $33.3K

17.78%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$61.8 $61.8

4.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$38.28 $38.28

36.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$55.3 $55.3

72.29%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$148 $148

-1.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$2,073 $2,073

14.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,206 $1,206

31.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$3,319 $3,319

43.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$2,038 $2,038

38.11%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$2,714 $2,714

32.18%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$2,232 $2,232

11.59%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$3,051 $3,051

72.90%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.38

3.45%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Hartford, CT: October 28, 2025

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