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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,117 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,530 in Hartford, CT, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,695 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,611 in Hartford, CT, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,273 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,692 in Hartford, CT, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 23% more than Hartford, CT, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Chicago, IL and Hartford, CT sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 128%, Hartford, CT by 85%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.92 $19.92

$20.89 $20.89

-4.64%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.5 $88.5

$101 $101

-12.02%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.94 $12.94

$11.88 $11.88

8.92%

Cappuccino

$5.54 $5.54

$3.94 $3.94

40.61%

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

$2.74 $2.74

$2.54 $2.54

7.87%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 $2.36

$1.53 $1.53

54.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.12 $7.12

$6.83 $6.83

4.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.73 $8.73

$7.66 $7.66

13.97%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$1.39 $1.39

-3.60%

White Bread (500g)

$4.17 $4.17

$4.06 $4.06

2.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.73 $5.73

$4.31 $4.31

32.95%

Eggs

$4.89 $4.89

$5.04 $5.04

-2.98%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.77 $14.77

$17.42 $17.42

-15.21%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.85 $14.85

$12.85 $12.85

15.56%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.61 $19.61

$17.17 $17.17

14.21%

Apples (1kg)

$5.57 $5.57

$6.03 $6.03

-7.63%

Banana (1kg)

$1.92 $1.92

$2.03 $2.03

-5.42%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.17 $4.17

$4.54 $4.54

-8.15%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.86 $4.86

$4.53 $4.53

7.28%

Potato (1kg)

$2.84 $2.84

$1.58 $1.58

79.75%

Onion (1kg)

$2.80 $2.80

$2.70 $2.70

3.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.20 $2.20

$1.17 $1.17

88.03%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.06 $3.06

$2.44 $2.44

25.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$16.16 $16.16

$13.76 $13.76

17.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.82 $14.82

$15.26 $15.26

-2.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.74 $1.74

45.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.35 $3.35

$1.94 $1.94

72.68%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.55 $2.55

$1.80 $1.80

41.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.6 $75.6

$64.2 $64.2

17.69%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.30 $3.30

$3.03 $3.03

8.91%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.36 $1.36

$2.23 $2.23

-39.01%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.12 $25.12

$42.33 $42.33

-40.66%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.17 $1.17

$0.97 $0.97

20.62%

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

$36.0K $36.0K

$34.9K $34.9K

3.06%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$24.9K $24.9K

5.36%

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

$191 $191

$198 $198

-3.21%

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

$67.9 $67.9

$67.2 $67.2

1.03%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.7 $61.7

$53.2 $53.2

15.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.5 $63.5

$49.45 $49.45

28.35%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.14 $27.14

$30.25 $30.25

-10.28%

Cinema Ticket

$18.02 $18.02

$12.96 $12.96

39.04%

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

$1,522 $1,522

$841 $841

81.03%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.3K $31.3K

$33.2K $33.2K

-5.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.7 $63.7

$57.7 $57.7

10.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.3 $55.3

$37.82 $37.82

46.09%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100 $100

$51.1 $51.1

96.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$153 $153

$81.0 $81.0

89.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,406 $2,406

$1,870 $1,870

28.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,653 $1,653

$1,175 $1,175

40.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,577 $4,577

$2,523 $2,523

81.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,771 $2,771

$1,632 $1,632

69.83%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,031 $4,031

$2,835 $2,835

42.20%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,745 $2,745

$2,481 $2,481

10.67%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,804 $4,804

$3,014 $3,014

59.41%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.38

6.12

4.25%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: September 13, 2026

Last update for Hartford, CT: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,406 in Chicago, IL versus $1,870 in Hartford, CT. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 59% higher in Chicago, IL, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $88.0 in Chicago, IL versus $101 in Hartford, CT. Groceries tell a different story – $464 in Chicago, IL vs $430 in Hartford, CT – so Hartford, CT wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Chicago, IL vs Hartford, CT: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,117 in Chicago, IL, $2,530 in Hartford, CT – roughly 23% apart. Chicago, IL costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,676 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,796 in Hartford, CT. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Hartford, CT, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 8% more in Chicago, IL, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $88.0 in Chicago, IL and $101 in Hartford, CT. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,117 in Chicago, IL and $2,530 in Hartford, CT. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,530 in Hartford, CT to $3,117 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Hartford, CT. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chicago, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.