Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Ketchikan, AK

For one person, living costs are similar in Chicago, IL and in Ketchikan, AK: $3,072 and $3,104 a month, rent and utilities included.

146

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
Learn more

Chicago, IL Living Index
149

Cost of Living Index in Ketchikan, AK
Learn more

Ketchikan, AK Living Index

Jump to prices

Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,072

/mo nomad

Ketchikan, AK

🇺🇸 United States

$3,104

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chicago, IL and in Ketchikan, AK

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chicago, IL and in Ketchikan, AK actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,072 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,104 in Ketchikan, AK, rent included.

Chicago, IL $3,072
Ketchikan, AK $3,104

A couple spends around $4,545 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,242 in Ketchikan, AK, rent included.

Chicago, IL $4,545
Ketchikan, AK $4,242

A family of three spends $6,019 per month in Chicago, IL vs $5,380 in Ketchikan, AK, rent included.

Chicago, IL $6,019
Ketchikan, AK $5,380

Chicago, IL and Ketchikan, AK have comparable living costs – the differences are in the details.

Both Chicago, IL and Ketchikan, AK sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 127%, Ketchikan, AK by 130%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.39 $20.39

$27.76 $27.76

-26.55%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.6 $88.6

$82.4 $82.4

7.50%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.85 $12.85

$11.47 $11.47

12.03%

Cappuccino

$5.78 $5.78

$5.09 $5.09

13.56%

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

$2.74 $2.74

$2.71 $2.71

1.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.26 $2.26

$2.03 $2.03

11.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.88 $6.88

$7.57 $7.57

-9.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.24 $9.24

$7.39 $7.39

25.03%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.26 $1.26

$1.75 $1.75

-28.00%

White Bread (500g)

$3.55 $3.55

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.38 $5.38

$4.27 $4.27

26.00%

Eggs

$4.55 $4.55

$4.31 $4.31

5.57%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.65 $13.65

$12.61 $12.61

8.25%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.07 $14.07

$11.70 $11.70

20.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.06 $18.06

$17.35 $17.35

4.09%

Apples (1kg)

$5.16 $5.16

$4.96 $4.96

4.03%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.62 $1.62

22.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.88 $3.88

$4.37 $4.37

-11.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.83 $4.83

$4.79 $4.79

0.84%

Potato (1kg)

$2.81 $2.81

$2.70 $2.70

4.07%

Onion (1kg)

$2.67 $2.67

$3.39 $3.39

-21.24%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.07 $2.07

$2.19 $2.19

-5.48%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.03 $3.03

$2.43 $2.43

24.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.90 $13.90

$9.87 $9.87

40.83%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.05 $15.05

$14.88 $14.88

1.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.63 $2.63

$2.22 $2.22

18.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.45 $3.45

$3.64 $3.64

-5.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.99 $1.99

22.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.3 $75.3

$59.1 $59.1

27.48%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.17 $3.17

$3.92 $3.92

-19.13%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.70 $1.70

$1.56 $1.56

8.97%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.90 $24.90

$28.88 $28.88

-13.78%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 $1.28

$1.20 $1.20

6.67%

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

$35.8K $35.8K

$29.7K $29.7K

20.59%

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

$26.8K $26.8K

$25.7K $25.7K

4.51%

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

$192 $192

$200 $200

-3.78%

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

$69.6 $69.6

$57.5 $57.5

20.96%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.2 $62.2

$135 $135

-53.96%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.79 $47.79

$40.43 $40.43

18.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.10 $27.10

Cinema Ticket

$17.83 $17.83

$17.98 $17.98

-0.83%

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

$1,815 $1,815

$1,219 $1,219

48.80%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$40.6K $40.6K

$19.5K $19.5K

108.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.2 $66.2

$57.1 $57.1

15.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.4 $51.4

$43.71 $43.71

17.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 $103

$82.9 $82.9

24.67%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$120 $120

18.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,531 $2,531

$1,781 $1,781

42.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,621 $1,621

$1,618 $1,618

0.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,828 $4,828

$2,366 $2,366

104.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,734 $2,734

$2,156 $2,156

26.83%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,163 $4,163

$3,323 $3,323

25.30%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,723 $2,723

$3,412 $3,412

-20.18%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,924 $4,924

$4,559 $4,559

7.99%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.78

6.59

2.88%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: November 3, 2026

Last update for Ketchikan, AK: November 3, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52.8%

Ketchikan, AK

$1.6K 52.1% 0.2% $3.5

Groceries & Markets

Chicago, IL

$439 14.3%

Ketchikan, AK

$413 13.3% 6.1% $27

Eating Out

Chicago, IL

$344 11.2%

Ketchikan, AK

$389 12.5% 13.1% $45

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chicago, IL

$324 10.5%

Ketchikan, AK

$392 12.6% 21.1% $68

Clothing & Footwear

Chicago, IL

$164 5.3%

Ketchikan, AK

$137 4.4% 16.3% $27

Getting Around

Chicago, IL

$97 3.2%

Ketchikan, AK

$79 2.5% 18.6% $18

Sport & Entertainment

Chicago, IL

$83 2.7%

Ketchikan, AK

$76 2.5% 8.5% $7.1

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,531 in Chicago, IL versus $1,781 in Ketchikan, AK. 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 8% higher in Chicago, IL. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89 in Chicago, IL versus $82 in Ketchikan, AK. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $439 vs $413 – making Ketchikan, AK the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 Ketchikan, AK

🕒 Local time

17:42 5:42 PM

14:42 2:42 PM

3 h behind Chicago, IL

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

2,746,388

8,200

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.888 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Chicago, IL Ketchikan, AK 3,490 km ≈ 4 h 45 min nonstop flight

From you

Chicago, IL
Ketchikan, AK

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Ketchikan, AK: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,608 per month in Chicago, IL and $4,655 in Ketchikan, AK. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Ketchikan, AK, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,781 there versus $2,531 in Chicago, IL.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89 in Chicago, IL and $82 in Ketchikan, AK. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Public transport costs about 22% less in Ketchikan, AK. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,072 in Chicago, IL and $3,104 in Ketchikan, AK. 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 $3,072 in Chicago, IL to $3,104 in Ketchikan, AK. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.