Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Lacey, WA Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Lacey, WA

πŸ™‚ Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 5.1% cheaper than Lacey, WA without rent, and 10% more expensive with rent.
πŸ™‚ Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 1.9% cheaper than Lacey, WA without rent, and 17.4% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Lacey, WA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$27.77 $27.77
-25.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$110 $110
-8.96%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$12.63 $12.63
-5.23%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$6.11 $6.11
-9.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$3.42 $3.42
-9.06%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$2.73 $2.73
-11.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$7.01 $7.01
-2.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$11.1 $11.1
-23.87%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Lacey, WA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.12 $1.12
-7.14%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$4.23 $4.23
-1.89%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$2.73 $2.73
102.20%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$4.21 $4.21
10.45%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$14.61 $14.61
-1.92%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$10.32 $10.32
44.19%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$15.37 $15.37
25.83%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$5.21 $5.21
-0.77%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.62 $1.62
5.56%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$4.3 $4.3
2.56%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$3.6 $3.6
25.28%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.39 $2.39
5.86%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$2.63 $2.63
4.18%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.49 $2.49
-2.41%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.97 $2.97
-9.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$9.45 $9.45
60.74%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$15.59 $15.59
5.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.98 $1.98
18.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$3.56 $3.56
3.93%
🚌 Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Lacey, WA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$1.97 $1.97
28.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$5.06 $5.06
-33.99%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.96 $1.96
-27.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$53.1 $53.1
-52.14%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$1.11 $1.11
-2.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$30.7K $30.7K
5.62%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$25.7K $25.7K
1.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Lacey, WA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$159 $159
18.22%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$51.3 $51.3
24.12%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$94.2 $94.2
-30.75%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Lacey, WA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$42.5 $42.5
80.52%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$12.66 $12.66
17.93%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Lacey, WA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,429 $1,429
44.31%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$30.1K $30.1K
30.24%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Lacey, WA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$50.5 $50.5
27.47%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$36.83 $36.83
42.25%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$88.6 $88.6
7.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$96.1 $96.1
50.53%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Lacey, WA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,575 $1,575
51.00%
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
$2,681 $2,681
77.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$2,266 $2,266
24.23%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$2,832 $2,832
26.67%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,205 $2,205
12.93%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Lacey, WA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$3,814 $3,814
38.32%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.61
-0.15%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Lacey, WA: October 27, 2025

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