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 $3,068 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,256 in Ithaca, NY, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,648 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,448 in Ithaca, NY, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,229 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,640 in Ithaca, NY, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 36% 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 69%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.17 $20.17

$19.77 $19.77

2.02%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.5 $99.5

$70.9 $70.9

40.27%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.23 $12.23

$11.03 $11.03

10.88%

Cappuccino

$5.60 $5.60

$4.96 $4.96

12.90%

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

$3.12 $3.12

$2.86 $2.86

9.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.92 $1.92

26.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.93 $6.93

$4.93 $4.93

40.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.20 $8.20

$5.91 $5.91

38.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$1.00 $1.00

8.00%

White Bread (500g)

$3.97 $3.97

$4.03 $4.03

-1.49%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.58 $5.58

$5.44 $5.44

2.57%

Eggs

$4.47 $4.47

$4.08 $4.08

9.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.50 $14.50

$13.87 $13.87

4.54%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.08 $15.08

$6.50 $6.50

132.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$15.45 $15.45

25.18%

Apples (1kg)

$5.37 $5.37

$4.57 $4.57

17.51%

Banana (1kg)

$1.76 $1.76

$1.59 $1.59

10.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.32 $4.32

$4.64 $4.64

-6.90%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$4.75 $4.75

-7.16%

Potato (1kg)

$2.54 $2.54

$7.12 $7.12

-64.33%

Onion (1kg)

$2.70 $2.70

$3.41 $3.41

-20.82%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.49 $2.49

$2.83 $2.83

-12.01%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.60 $2.60

$1.76 $1.76

47.73%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.80 $14.80

$9.16 $9.16

61.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.18 $15.18

$14.22 $14.22

6.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$1.86 $1.86

32.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.60 $3.60

$3.94 $3.94

-8.63%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.54 $2.54

$1.46 $1.46

73.97%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$76.3 $76.3

$44.80 $44.80

70.25%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.30 $3.30

$4.97 $4.97

-33.60%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.38 $1.38

$1.36 $1.36

1.47%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.36 $25.36

$27.29 $27.29

-7.07%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.94 $0.94

15.96%

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

$31.6K $31.6K

$30.2K $30.2K

4.96%

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

$26.6K $26.6K

$25.5K $25.5K

4.02%

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

$186 $186

$139 $139

33.61%

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

$62.9 $62.9

$46.49 $46.49

35.21%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.2 $66.2

$65.4 $65.4

1.24%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$77.6 $77.6

$43.00 $43.00

80.51%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.16 $13.16

Cinema Ticket

$14.74 $14.74

$10.94 $10.94

34.73%

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

$2,039 $2,039

$1,564 $1,564

30.37%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.9K $39.9K

$28.2K $28.2K

41.37%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.9 $63.9

$44.01 $44.01

45.08%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.2 $51.2

$39.25 $39.25

30.37%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$80.9 $80.9

17.69%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$144 $144

$101 $101

42.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,305 $2,305

$1,649 $1,649

39.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,575 $1,575

$1,058 $1,058

48.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,688 $4,688

$2,647 $2,647

77.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,737 $2,737

$1,866 $1,866

46.70%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,063 $4,063

$2,200 $2,200

84.72%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,696 $2,696

$2,150 $2,150

25.38%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,019 $5,019

$3,399 $3,399

47.66%

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: July 11, 2026

Last update for Ithaca, NY: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,305 in Chicago, IL versus $1,649 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 48% 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 $99.0 in Chicago, IL versus $71.0 in Ithaca, NY. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $448 vs $390 – 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: $3,068 in Chicago, IL, $2,256 in Ithaca, NY – roughly 36% apart. Chicago, IL costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,602 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,384 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 $99.0 in Chicago, IL and $71.0 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 $3,068 in Chicago, IL and $2,256 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 $2,256 in Ithaca, NY to $3,068 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.