Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and La Plata, MD Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and La Plata, MD

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 12% more expensive than La Plata, MD without rent, and 20.9% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 27.5% more expensive than La Plata, MD without rent, and 27.6% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chicago, IL
La Plata, MD
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$20.17 $20.17
3.22%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$81.2 $81.2
23.59%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$11.55 $11.55
3.64%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$5.77 $5.77
-3.64%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.85 $2.85
9.12%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$2.37 $2.37
2.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$3.46 $3.46
98.27%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$5.03 $5.03
67.99%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
La Plata, MD
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$0.96 $0.96
8.33%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$3.05 $3.05
36.07%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$5.98 $5.98
-7.69%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$1.81 $1.81
156.91%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$12.83 $12.83
11.69%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$8.68 $8.68
71.43%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$13.06 $13.06
48.09%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$5.09 $5.09
1.57%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.74 $1.74
-1.72%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$7.36 $7.36
-40.08%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$4.33 $4.33
4.16%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$3.57 $3.57
-29.13%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$2.67 $2.67
2.62%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.22 $2.22
9.46%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.52 $2.52
7.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$10.67 $10.67
42.36%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$14.17 $14.17
15.88%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$2.72 $2.72
-13.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$4.92 $4.92
-24.80%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chicago, IL
La Plata, MD
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.05 $2.05
23.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$2.73 $2.73
22.34%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.34 $1.34
5.97%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$28.7 $28.7
-11.43%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.75 $0.75
44.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$29K $29K
11.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$26.5K $26.5K
-1.13%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
La Plata, MD
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$97.9 $97.9
92.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$42.97 $42.97
48.24%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$73.6 $73.6
-11.46%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
La Plata, MD
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$43.38 $43.38
76.86%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$14.74 $14.74
1.29%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
La Plata, MD
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,209 $1,209
70.58%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$24.3K $24.3K
61.16%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
La Plata, MD
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$54.7 $54.7
17.55%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$63 $63
-16.87%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$95.4 $95.4
-0.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$196 $196
-26.13%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
La Plata, MD
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,575 $1,575
50.95%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,371 $1,371
15.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$2,614 $2,614
82.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$2,233 $2,233
26.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$2,596 $2,596
38.20%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,278 $2,278
9.34%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
La Plata, MD
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$6,494 $6,494
-18.77%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.25
5.60%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for La Plata, MD: October 29, 2025

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