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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,077 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,218 in Ithaca, NY, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,628 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,397 in Ithaca, NY, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,179 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,576 in Ithaca, NY, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 39% more than Ithaca, NY, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chicago, IL and Ithaca, NY sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 130%, Ithaca, NY by 66%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.91 $20.91

$20.08 $20.08

4.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.1 $98.1

$68.7 $68.7

42.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.86 $11.86

$10.97 $10.97

8.11%

Cappuccino

$5.60 $5.60

$5.01 $5.01

11.78%

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

$3.07 $3.07

$2.84 $2.84

8.10%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$1.88 $1.88

31.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.14 $7.14

$5.01 $5.01

42.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.08 $8.08

$6.03 $6.03

34.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$0.99 $0.99

6.06%

White Bread (500g)

$4.11 $4.11

$3.91 $3.91

5.12%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.61 $5.61

$5.60 $5.60

0.18%

Eggs

$4.51 $4.51

$4.10 $4.10

10.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.27 $14.27

$13.84 $13.84

3.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.89 $14.89

$6.62 $6.62

124.92%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.19 $19.19

$15.01 $15.01

27.85%

Apples (1kg)

$5.14 $5.14

$4.57 $4.57

12.47%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 $1.77

$1.59 $1.59

11.32%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.39 $4.39

$4.58 $4.58

-4.15%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.56 $4.56

$5.01 $5.01

-8.98%

Potato (1kg)

$2.54 $2.54

$7.04 $7.04

-63.92%

Onion (1kg)

$2.75 $2.75

$3.54 $3.54

-22.32%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.89 $2.89

-16.26%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$1.77 $1.77

48.02%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.92 $14.92

$8.86 $8.86

68.40%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.80 $14.80

$13.79 $13.79

7.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$1.85 $1.85

32.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 $3.73

$4.06 $4.06

-8.13%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.48 $2.48

$1.49 $1.49

66.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.4 $75.4

$45.56 $45.56

65.56%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.18 $3.18

$4.88 $4.88

-34.84%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.36 $1.36

4.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.94 $24.94

$26.98 $26.98

-7.56%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.06 $1.06

$0.90 $0.90

17.78%

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

$31.9K $31.9K

$29.8K $29.8K

7.24%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$26.1K $26.1K

-0.16%

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

$185 $185

$137 $137

35.13%

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

$61.7 $61.7

$47.48 $47.48

30.03%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.9 $66.9

$65.8 $65.8

1.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.2 $75.2

$42.94 $42.94

75.06%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.08 $13.08

Cinema Ticket

$14.71 $14.71

$10.94 $10.94

34.46%

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

$2,020 $2,020

$1,559 $1,559

29.61%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.4K $39.4K

$28.3K $28.3K

39.33%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.6 $64.6

$43.80 $43.80

47.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.5 $52.5

$39.88 $39.88

31.52%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.8 $97.8

$78.9 $78.9

24.00%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$148 $148

$103 $103

43.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,313 $2,313

$1,647 $1,647

40.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,590 $1,590

$1,059 $1,059

50.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,608 $4,608

$2,614 $2,614

76.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,779 $2,779

$1,860 $1,860

49.41%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,922 $3,922

$2,182 $2,182

79.76%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,613 $2,613

$2,137 $2,137

22.27%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,217 $5,217

$3,366 $3,366

54.98%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.28

5.10%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: May 30, 2026

Last update for Ithaca, NY: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,313 in Chicago, IL versus $1,647 in Ithaca, NY. 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 55% 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 $98.0 in Chicago, IL versus $69.0 in Ithaca, NY. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $447 vs $389 – making Ithaca, 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 Ithaca, NY: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,077 in Chicago, IL, $2,218 in Ithaca, NY – roughly 39% apart. Chicago, IL costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,616 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,327 in Ithaca, NY. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 15% 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 $98.0 in Chicago, IL and $69.0 in Ithaca, NY. 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 $3,077 in Chicago, IL and $2,218 in Ithaca, NY. 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 $2,218 in Ithaca, NY to $3,077 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 Ithaca, 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.