Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Lancaster, PA Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Lancaster, PA

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 13.3% more expensive than Lancaster, PA without rent, and 28.4% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 12.5% more expensive than Lancaster, PA without rent, and 37.5% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$24.61 $24.61

-15.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$64.2 $64.2

56.37%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$9.84 $9.84

21.65%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$5.14 $5.14

8.17%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.36 $2.36

31.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.89 $1.89

28.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$4.05 $4.05

69.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$7.14 $7.14

18.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.15 $1.15

-9.57%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$3.14 $3.14

32.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$3.43 $3.43

60.93%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$4.03 $4.03

15.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$12.64 $12.64

13.37%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$9.27 $9.27

60.52%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$13.54 $13.54

42.84%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$6.03 $6.03

-14.26%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.41 $1.41

21.28%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$4.58 $4.58

-3.71%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$5.79 $5.79

-22.11%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.19 $2.19

15.53%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.38 $2.38

15.13%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.38 $2.38

2.10%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$2.11 $2.11

27.96%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$10.22 $10.22

48.63%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$13.24 $13.24

24.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.93 $1.93

21.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$4.84 $4.84

-23.55%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.66 $1.66

52.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

$42.24 $42.24

75.50%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$2.83 $2.83

18.02%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.65 $1.65

-13.94%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$24.65 $24.65

3.12%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.82 $0.82

31.71%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$27.2K $27.2K

19.18%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$25.3K $25.3K

3.70%

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

$188 $188

$128 $128

47.34%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$43.26 $43.26

47.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$71.4 $71.4

-8.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$54.6 $54.6

40.56%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

$45.36 $45.36

-71.27%

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$16.22 $16.22

-7.95%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$797 $797

158.73%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$36.4K $36.4K

7.58%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$56.8 $56.8

13.22%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$53.6 $53.6

-2.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$93.3 $93.3

2.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$105 $105

37.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$1,296 $1,296

83.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,074 $1,074

47.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$1,866 $1,866

155.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$1,754 $1,754

60.45%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$2,430 $2,430

47.68%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$2,511 $2,511

-0.83%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$3,920 $3,920

34.58%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.4

3.12%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Lancaster, PA: October 28, 2025

Similar cities

Amsterdam

🇳🇱 Netherlands

Dallas, TX

🇺🇸 United States

Denver, CO

🇺🇸 United States

Miami, FL

🇺🇸 United States

San Diego, CA

🇺🇸 United States

Philadelphia, PA

🇺🇸 United States

Atlanta, GA

🇺🇸 United States

Minneapolis, MN

🇺🇸 United States