Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Huntingdon, PA Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Huntingdon, PA

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,051 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,375 in Huntingdon, PA, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,638 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,456 in Huntingdon, PA, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,224 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,536 in Huntingdon, PA, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 28% more than Huntingdon, PA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chicago, IL and Huntingdon, PA sit above the global median โ€“ Chicago, IL by 128%, Huntingdon, PA by 77%.

Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Huntingdon, PA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.67 $20.67
$20.37 $20.37
1.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$81.6 $81.6
23.17%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.86 $11.86
$10.15 $10.15
16.85%
Cappuccino
$5.54 $5.54
$5.10 $5.10
8.63%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.06 $3.06
$2.35 $2.35
30.21%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48 $2.48
$2.18 $2.18
13.76%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.92 $6.92
$6.15 $6.15
12.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.13 $8.13
$7.72 $7.72
5.31%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Huntingdon, PA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$0.94 $0.94
10.64%
White Bread (500g)
$3.91 $3.91
$3.20 $3.20
22.19%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.42 $5.42
$4.39 $4.39
23.46%
Eggs
$4.48 $4.48
$4.29 $4.29
4.43%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.52 $14.52
$13.68 $13.68
6.14%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.21 $15.21
$8.14 $8.14
86.86%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.25 $19.25
$6.52 $6.52
195.25%
Apples (1kg)
$5.39 $5.39
$2.05 $2.05
162.93%
Banana (1kg)
$1.69 $1.69
$1.62 $1.62
4.32%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.32 $4.32
$1.84 $1.84
134.78%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$2.14 $2.14
110.75%
Potato (1kg)
$2.56 $2.56
$2.19 $2.19
16.89%
Onion (1kg)
$2.70 $2.70
$2.52 $2.52
7.14%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.41 $2.41
$2.53 $2.53
-4.74%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.62 $2.62
$1.91 $1.91
37.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.02 $15.02
$12.54 $12.54
19.78%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.71 $14.71
$13.74 $13.74
7.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.48 $2.48
$2.25 $2.25
10.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.69 $3.69
$2.98 $2.98
23.83%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Huntingdon, PA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.55 $2.55
$2.04 $2.04
25.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$75.5 $75.5
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.29 $3.29
$1.82 $1.82
80.77%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.43 $1.43
$1.40 $1.40
2.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$24.72 $24.72
$24.02 $24.02
2.91%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.09 $1.09
$0.91 $0.91
19.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.8K $31.8K
$25.3K $25.3K
25.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.4K $26.4K
$25.7K $25.7K
3.07%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Huntingdon, PA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$183 $183
$174 $174
5.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$61.8 $61.8
$56.6 $56.6
9.26%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.0 $65.0
$79.6 $79.6
-18.33%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Huntingdon, PA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.1 $76.1
$43.59 $43.59
74.54%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.04 $13.04
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.75 $14.75
$14.71 $14.71
0.27%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Huntingdon, PA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,056 $2,056
$1,299 $1,299
58.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$38.5K $38.5K
$34.0K $34.0K
13.30%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Huntingdon, PA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.9 $63.9
$12.17 $12.17
425.31%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.6 $51.6
$14.06 $14.06
266.93%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$97.3 $97.3
$33.35 $33.35
191.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$147 $147
$52.9 $52.9
178.08%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Huntingdon, PA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,349 $2,349
$1,593 $1,593
47.52%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,581 $1,581
$1,380 $1,380
14.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,708 $4,708
$2,667 $2,667
76.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,716 $2,716
$2,218 $2,218
22.42%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,976 $3,976
$2,744 $2,744
44.93%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,632 $2,632
$2,375 $2,375
10.81%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Huntingdon, PA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,723 $4,723
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.59
0.15%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chicago, IL: April 20, 2026

Last update for Huntingdon, PA: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,349 in Chicago, IL versus $1,593 in Huntingdon, PA. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $100 in Chicago, IL versus $82 in Huntingdon, PA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $447 vs $305 โ€“ making Huntingdon, PA 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 Huntingdon, PA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Chicago, IL and Huntingdon, PA compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $3,051 in Chicago, IL, $2,375 in Huntingdon, PA โ€“ roughly 28% apart. Chicago, IL costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Chicago, IL compared to Huntingdon, PA?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,577 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,563 in Huntingdon, PA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled โ€“ not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Chicago, IL and Huntingdon, PA?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Huntingdon, PA, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $100 in Chicago, IL and $82.0 in Huntingdon, PA. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and cafรฉ pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 47% 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.
Which city is more doable on $2,500 per month?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Huntingdon, PA, where all-in costs run around $2,375, than in Chicago, IL at $3,051. In Huntingdon, PA it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chicago, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Chicago, IL and Huntingdon, PA?
It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,375 in Huntingdon, PA to $3,051 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Chicago, IL or Huntingdon, PA safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison โ€“ central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Chicago, IL and Huntingdon, PA?
If budget matters most, go with Huntingdon, PA. 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.

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