๐A single person spends $3,051 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,544 in Kings Park, NY, rent included.
๐A couple spends around $4,638 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,853 in Kings Park, NY, rent included.
๐A family of three spends $6,224 per month in Chicago, IL vs $5,162 in Kings Park, NY, rent included.
๐Chicago, IL costs about 20% more than Kings Park, NY, driven mainly by Getting Around.
๐Both Chicago, IL and Kings Park, NY sit above the global median โ Chicago, IL by 128%, Kings Park, NY by 90%.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Kings Park, NY
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.67$20.67
$17.13$17.13
20.67%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100$100
$100$100
0.35%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.86$11.86
$11.86$11.86
-
Cappuccino
$5.54$5.54
$4.89$4.89
13.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.06$3.06
$2.30$2.30
33.04%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48$2.48
$1.56$1.56
58.97%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.92$6.92
$7.03$7.03
-1.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$8.13$8.13
$8.22$8.22
-1.09%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Kings Park, NY
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.04$1.04
$1.18$1.18
-11.86%
White Bread(500g)
$3.91$3.91
$4.29$4.29
-8.86%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$5.42$5.42
$4.90$4.90
10.61%
Eggs
$4.48$4.48
$5.19$5.19
-13.68%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.52$14.52
$14.04$14.04
3.42%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$15.21$15.21
$10.34$10.34
47.10%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.25$19.25
$15.17$15.17
26.90%
Apples(1kg)
$5.39$5.39
$5.71$5.71
-5.60%
Banana(1kg)
$1.69$1.69
$2.33$2.33
-27.47%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.32$4.32
$2.18$2.18
98.17%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.51$4.51
$4.32$4.32
4.40%
Potato(1kg)
$2.56$2.56
$2.73$2.73
-6.23%
Onion(1kg)
$2.70$2.70
$2.56$2.56
5.47%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.41$2.41
$2.19$2.19
10.05%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.62$2.62
$2.27$2.27
15.42%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$15.02$15.02
$15.98$15.98
-6.01%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.71$14.71
$14.98$14.98
-1.80%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.48$2.48
$1.83$1.83
35.52%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.69$3.69
$4.12$4.12
-10.44%
๐ Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Kings Park, NY
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.55$2.55
$2.05$2.05
24.39%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$75.5$75.5
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.29$3.29
$2.96$2.96
11.15%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.43$1.43
$1.58$1.58
-9.49%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$24.72$24.72
$41.58$41.58
-40.55%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.09$1.09
$0.94$0.94
15.96%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.8K$31.8K
$23.8K$23.8K
33.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.4K$26.4K
$24.9K$24.9K
6.26%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Kings Park, NY
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$183$183
$212$212
-13.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$61.8$61.8
$54.5$54.5
13.51%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.0$65.0
$58.5$58.5
11.16%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Kings Park, NY
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$76.1$76.1
$43.05$43.05
76.72%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.04$13.04
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.75$14.75
$12.83$12.83
14.96%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Kings Park, NY
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$2,056$2,056
$1,736$1,736
18.42%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$38.5K$38.5K
$15.8K$15.8K
142.98%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Kings Park, NY
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.9$63.9
$40.02$40.02
59.75%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.6$51.6
$39.36$39.36
31.07%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$97.3$97.3
$87.4$87.4
11.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$147$147
$98.8$98.8
49.04%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Kings Park, NY
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,349$2,349
$1,571$1,571
49.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,581$1,581
$1,359$1,359
16.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$4,708$4,708
$2,671$2,671
76.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,716$2,716
$2,202$2,202
23.33%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,976$3,976
$2,892$2,892
37.51%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,632$2,632
$2,240$2,240
17.50%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Kings Park, NY
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,723$4,723
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.6
6.44
2.48%
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 Kings Park, NY: April 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A central one-bedroom costs $2,349 in Chicago, IL versus $1,571 in Kings Park, NY. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
๐A mid-range dinner for two costs $100 in Chicago, IL versus $100 in Kings Park, NY. Groceries tell a different story โ $447 in Chicago, IL vs $404 in Kings Park, NY โ so Kings Park, NY wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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 Kings Park, NY: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Chicago, IL and Kings Park, NY compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $3,051 in Chicago, IL, $2,544 in Kings Park, NY โ roughly 20% apart. Chicago, IL costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Chicago, IL compared to Kings Park, NY?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,577 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,816 in Kings Park, NY. 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 Kings Park, NY?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Kings Park, NY, 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 $100 in Kings Park, NY. 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 11% 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 feasible on a $2,500 budget?
$2,500 is a stretch for both โ monthly costs hit $3,051 in Chicago, IL and $2,544 in Kings Park, NY. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
How does quality of life compare between Chicago, IL and Kings Park, NY?
It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,544 in Kings Park, NY to $3,051 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Chicago, IL or Kings Park, NY 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 Kings Park, NY?
If budget matters most, go with Kings Park, 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.
Chicago, IL vs other spots: cost of living compared