Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Hempstead, NY Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Hempstead, NY

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 13.8% more expensive than Hempstead, NY without rent, and 19.6% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 40.2% more expensive than Hempstead, NY without rent, and 28.4% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Hempstead, NY
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$17.17 $17.17
21.26%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$74.7 $74.7
34.40%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$13.03 $13.03
-8.14%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$4.92 $4.92
13.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.39 $2.39
30.13%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$2.14 $2.14
13.08%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$7.17 $7.17
-4.32%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$8.02 $8.02
5.36%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Hempstead, NY
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.15 $1.15
-9.57%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$1.62 $1.62
156.17%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$2.34 $2.34
135.90%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$3.61 $3.61
28.81%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$9.83 $9.83
45.78%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$10.2 $10.2
45.88%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$11.9 $11.9
62.52%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$2.9 $2.9
78.28%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.55 $1.55
10.32%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$1.83 $1.83
140.98%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$4.7 $4.7
-4.04%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$4.36 $4.36
-41.97%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$2.61 $2.61
4.98%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.44 $2.44
-0.41%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.19 $2.19
23.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$13.23 $13.23
14.81%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$16.9 $16.9
-2.84%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.82 $1.82
29.12%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$3.55 $3.55
4.23%
🚌 Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Hempstead, NY
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.01 $2.01
25.87%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
$130 $130
-43.06%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$5.92 $5.92
-43.58%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.37 $1.37
3.65%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$28.96 $28.96
-12.22%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.94 $0.94
14.89%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$29.4K $29.4K
10.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$26.1K $26.1K
0.48%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Hempstead, NY
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$150 $150
25.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$44.07 $44.07
44.54%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$55.6 $55.6
17.27%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Hempstead, NY
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$43.16 $43.16
77.76%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$12.57 $12.57
18.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Hempstead, NY
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,419 $1,419
45.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$23.8K $23.8K
64.74%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Hempstead, NY
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$37.22 $37.22
72.78%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$24.39 $24.39
114.80%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$86.1 $86.1
10.58%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$71.1 $71.1
103.55%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Hempstead, NY
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,632 $1,632
45.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,352 $1,352
17.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$2,661 $2,661
79.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$2,226 $2,226
26.46%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$2,936 $2,936
22.20%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,165 $2,165
15.01%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Hempstead, NY
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
-
-
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 Hempstead, NY: October 28, 2025

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