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

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 26.2% more expensive than Lakewood, WA without rent, and 22.1% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 3.4% more expensive than Lakewood, WA without rent, and 23.6% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Lakewood, WA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$22.69 $22.69
-8.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$118 $118
-14.98%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$12.59 $12.59
-4.92%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$6.3 $6.3
-11.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$5.14 $5.14
-39.49%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$2.46 $2.46
-1.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$8.95 $8.95
-23.35%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$11.91 $11.91
-29.05%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Lakewood, WA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.05 $1.05
-0.95%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$1.3 $1.3
219.23%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$2.77 $2.77
99.28%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$5.14 $5.14
-9.53%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$11.03 $11.03
29.92%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$15.53 $15.53
-4.19%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$15.53 $15.53
24.53%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$5.07 $5.07
1.97%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.49 $1.49
14.77%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$2.86 $2.86
54.20%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$3.63 $3.63
24.24%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.01 $2.01
25.87%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$1.91 $1.91
43.46%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.55 $2.55
-4.71%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.94 $2.94
-8.16%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$9.06 $9.06
67.66%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$12.03 $12.03
36.49%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$2.06 $2.06
14.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$3.33 $3.33
11.11%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Lakewood, WA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$1.96 $1.96
29.08%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$2.53 $2.53
32.02%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.66 $1.66
-14.46%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$29.04 $29.04
-12.47%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$1.16 $1.16
-6.90%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$23.6K $23.6K
37.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$20.1K $20.1K
30.49%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Lakewood, WA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$84.9 $84.9
121.78%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$51.4 $51.4
23.86%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$54 $54
20.65%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Lakewood, WA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$43.23 $43.23
77.47%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$13.64 $13.64
9.46%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Lakewood, WA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$2,119 $2,119
-2.65%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$30.5K $30.5K
28.60%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Lakewood, WA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$27.3 $27.3
135.57%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$36.82 $36.82
42.29%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$84.5 $84.5
12.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$76.3 $76.3
89.67%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Lakewood, WA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,588 $1,588
49.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,352 $1,352
17.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$2,326 $2,326
104.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$2,246 $2,246
25.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$2,787 $2,787
28.74%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,794 $2,794
-10.88%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Lakewood, WA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$4,707 $4,707
12.07%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.61
-0.15%

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 Lakewood, WA: October 26, 2025

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