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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,117 per month in Chicago, IL vs $1,475 in Hempstead, NY, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,695 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,303 in Hempstead, NY, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,273 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,132 in Hempstead, NY, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 111% more than Hempstead, NY, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chicago, IL and Hempstead, NY sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 128%, Hempstead, NY by 8%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.92 $19.92

$19.91 $19.91

0.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.5 $88.5

$76.0 $76.0

16.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.94 $12.94

$12.64 $12.64

2.37%

Cappuccino

$5.54 $5.54

$5.13 $5.13

7.99%

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

$2.74 $2.74

$3.02 $3.02

-9.27%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 $2.36

$2.27 $2.27

3.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.12 $7.12

$5.91 $5.91

20.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.73 $8.73

$7.96 $7.96

9.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$1.28 $1.28

4.69%

White Bread (500g)

$4.17 $4.17

$1.60 $1.60

160.62%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.73 $5.73

$2.34 $2.34

144.87%

Eggs

$4.89 $4.89

$3.65 $3.65

33.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.77 $14.77

$9.93 $9.93

48.74%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.85 $14.85

$11.98 $11.98

23.96%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.61 $19.61

$12.32 $12.32

59.17%

Apples (1kg)

$5.57 $5.57

$3.00 $3.00

85.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.92 $1.92

$1.63 $1.63

17.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.17 $4.17

$1.77 $1.77

135.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.86 $4.86

$5.21 $5.21

-6.72%

Potato (1kg)

$2.84 $2.84

$2.73 $2.73

4.03%

Onion (1kg)

$2.80 $2.80

$2.66 $2.66

5.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.20 $2.20

$2.43 $2.43

-9.47%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.06 $3.06

$2.47 $2.47

23.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$16.16 $16.16

$12.80 $12.80

26.25%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.82 $14.82

$14.97 $14.97

-1.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.39 $2.39

5.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.35 $3.35

$4.25 $4.25

-21.18%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.55 $2.55

$2.84 $2.84

-10.21%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.6 $75.6

$131 $131

-42.20%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.30 $3.30

$2.66 $2.66

24.06%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.36 $1.36

$0.63 $0.63

115.87%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.12 $25.12

$24.38 $24.38

3.04%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.17 $1.17

$1.08 $1.08

8.33%

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

$36.0K $36.0K

$36.5K $36.5K

-1.42%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$25.3K $25.3K

3.75%

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

$191 $191

$220 $220

-12.90%

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

$67.9 $67.9

$63.0 $63.0

7.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.7 $61.7

$67.7 $67.7

-8.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.5 $63.5

$111 $111

-42.83%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.14 $27.14

Cinema Ticket

$18.02 $18.02

$15.59 $15.59

15.59%

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

$1,522 $1,522

$2,256 $2,256

-32.53%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.3K $31.3K

$42.1K $42.1K

-25.71%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.7 $63.7

$48.79 $48.79

30.52%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.3 $55.3

$47.09 $47.09

17.33%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100 $100

$102 $102

-1.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$153 $153

$139 $139

10.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,406 $2,406

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,653 $1,653

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,577 $4,577

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,771 $2,771

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,031 $4,031

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,745 $2,745

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,804 $4,804

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.38

6.16

3.57%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: September 13, 2026

Last update for Hempstead, NY: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $88.0 in Chicago, IL versus $76.0 in Hempstead, NY. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $464 vs $341 – making Hempstead, NY the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Hempstead, NY: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,117 in Chicago, IL, $1,475 in Hempstead, NY – roughly 111% apart. Chicago, IL costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,676 per month in Chicago, IL and $2,212 in Hempstead, NY. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Groceries cost about 36% 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 $76.0 in Hempstead, NY. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Hempstead, NY, where all-in costs run around $1,475, than in Chicago, IL at $3,117. In Hempstead, NY it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chicago, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,475 in Hempstead, NY to $3,117 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Hempstead, NY. 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.