Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Laurel, MD Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Laurel, MD

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 2.2% more expensive than Laurel, MD without rent, and 12.5% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 8.8% more expensive than Laurel, MD without rent, and 8.5% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Laurel, MD
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$12.15 $12.15
71.36%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$49.07 $49.07
104.48%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$10.02 $10.02
19.46%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$4.87 $4.87
14.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$1.98 $1.98
57.07%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$1.98 $1.98
22.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$6.44 $6.44
6.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$7.9 $7.9
6.96%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Laurel, MD
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$0.98 $0.98
6.12%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$3.64 $3.64
14.01%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$7.23 $7.23
-23.65%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$3.94 $3.94
18.02%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$19.28 $19.28
-25.67%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$20.38 $20.38
-26.99%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$13.26 $13.26
45.85%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$6.06 $6.06
-14.69%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$2.95 $2.95
-42.03%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$8.04 $8.04
-45.15%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$10.83 $10.83
-58.36%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$4.88 $4.88
-48.16%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$2.14 $2.14
28.04%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.75 $2.75
-11.64%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$3.08 $3.08
-12.34%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$8.08 $8.08
88.00%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$16.44 $16.44
-0.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.77 $1.77
32.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$3.7 $3.7
-
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Laurel, MD
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$1.94 $1.94
30.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$4.58 $4.58
-27.07%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.66 $1.66
-14.46%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$29.36 $29.36
-13.42%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.83 $0.83
30.12%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$26.6K $26.6K
22.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$25.1K $25.1K
4.57%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Laurel, MD
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$162 $162
16.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$52 $52
22.45%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$65.7 $65.7
-0.78%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Laurel, MD
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$42.35 $42.35
81.16%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$13.11 $13.11
13.88%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Laurel, MD
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,841 $1,841
12.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$23.5K $23.5K
66.69%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Laurel, MD
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$38.62 $38.62
66.52%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$29.58 $29.58
77.11%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$88.3 $88.3
7.84%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$118 $118
22.78%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Laurel, MD
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,578 $1,578
50.72%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,361 $1,361
16.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$2,570 $2,570
85.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$2,993 $2,993
-5.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$2,271 $2,271
58.01%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,524 $2,524
-1.32%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Laurel, MD
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$5,359 $5,359
-1.57%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.55
0.76%

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 Laurel, MD: October 28, 2025

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