Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Lebanon, NH

For one person, living is cheaper in Lebanon, NH: $2,933 a month against $3,037 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $1,200 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Chicago, IL outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

147

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
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Chicago, IL Living Index
141

Cost of Living Index in Lebanon, NH
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Lebanon, NH Living Index

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Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,037

/mo nomad

Lebanon, NH

🇺🇸 United States

$2,933

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chicago, IL and in Lebanon, NH

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chicago, IL and in Lebanon, NH actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,037 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,933 in Lebanon, NH, rent included.

Chicago, IL $3,037
Lebanon, NH $2,933

A couple spends around $4,518 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,600 in Lebanon, NH, rent included.

Chicago, IL $4,518
Lebanon, NH $4,600

A family of three spends $5,999 per month in Chicago, IL vs $6,266 in Lebanon, NH, rent included.

Chicago, IL $5,999
Lebanon, NH $6,266

Chicago, IL costs about 4% more than Lebanon, NH, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in utilities.

Both Chicago, IL and Lebanon, NH sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 123%, Lebanon, NH by 116%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.71 $20.71

$25.10 $25.10

-17.49%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$89.2 $89.2

$120 $120

-25.34%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.19 $13.19

$15.22 $15.22

-13.34%

Cappuccino

$5.66 $5.66

$6.13 $6.13

-7.67%

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

$2.64 $2.64

$3.09 $3.09

-14.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 $2.28

$2.41 $2.41

-5.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.87 $6.87

$7.90 $7.90

-13.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.84 $8.84

$8.21 $8.21

7.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.25 $1.25

$0.75 $0.75

66.67%

White Bread (500g)

$3.72 $3.72

$4.72 $4.72

-21.19%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$8.21 $8.21

-34.35%

Eggs

$4.74 $4.74

$3.92 $3.92

20.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.84 $13.84

$18.92 $18.92

-26.85%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.40 $14.40

$10.27 $10.27

40.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.38 $18.38

$15.92 $15.92

15.45%

Apples (1kg)

$5.22 $5.22

$4.70 $4.70

11.06%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.66 $1.66

19.28%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.06 $4.06

$5.95 $5.95

-31.76%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.97 $4.97

$6.95 $6.95

-28.49%

Potato (1kg)

$2.67 $2.67

$6.41 $6.41

-58.35%

Onion (1kg)

$2.66 $2.66

$3.70 $3.70

-28.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.24 $2.24

$3.21 $3.21

-30.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.13 $3.13

$2.60 $2.60

20.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.82 $13.82

$12.35 $12.35

11.90%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.88 $14.88

$15.17 $15.17

-1.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.54 $2.54

$1.88 $1.88

35.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.51 $3.51

$2.62 $2.62

33.97%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.04 $2.04

19.12%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$73.5 $73.5

$58.5 $58.5

25.78%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.18 $3.18

$1.94 $1.94

63.92%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.39 $1.39

$1.58 $1.58

-12.03%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.03 $25.03

$11.12 $11.12

125.09%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 $1.20

$1.05 $1.05

14.29%

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

$35.0K $35.0K

$27.6K $27.6K

27.13%

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

$26.7K $26.7K

$26.3K $26.3K

1.45%

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

$194 $194

$224 $224

-13.20%

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

$69.5 $69.5

$44.86 $44.86

54.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.6 $61.6

$59.2 $59.2

4.05%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.90 $47.90

$37.75 $37.75

26.89%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.34 $27.34

Cinema Ticket

$17.81 $17.81

$12.86 $12.86

38.49%

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

$1,794 $1,794

$1,271 $1,271

41.13%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.9K $31.9K

$26.4K $26.4K

21.20%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.0 $67.0

$53.4 $53.4

25.46%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.1 $52.1

$78.9 $78.9

-33.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 $102

$104 $104

-2.02%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$144 $144

$132 $132

9.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,526 $2,526

$1,576 $1,576

60.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,578 $1,578

$1,435 $1,435

9.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,738 $4,738

$2,918 $2,918

62.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,693 $2,693

$2,782 $2,782

-3.20%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,190 $4,190

$2,823 $2,823

48.42%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,768 $2,768

$2,326 $2,326

19.03%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,931 $4,931

$5,540 $5,540

-11.00%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.81

6.5

4.77%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 25, 2026

Last update for Lebanon, NH: October 27, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52%

Lebanon, NH

$1.4K 48.9% 9.1% $143

Groceries & Markets

Chicago, IL

$447 14.7%

Lebanon, NH

$467 15.9% 4.3% $19

Eating Out

Chicago, IL

$345 11.4%

Lebanon, NH

$398 13.6% 15.4% $53

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chicago, IL

$326 10.7%

Lebanon, NH

$328 11.2% 0.8% $2.6

Clothing & Footwear

Chicago, IL

$164 5.4%

Lebanon, NH

$165 5.6% 0.8% $1.4

Getting Around

Chicago, IL

$93 3.1%

Lebanon, NH

$76 2.6% 18.1% $17

Sport & Entertainment

Chicago, IL

$84 2.8%

Lebanon, NH

$63 2.2% 24% $20

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,526 in Chicago, IL versus $1,576 in Lebanon, NH. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 12% higher in Lebanon, NH, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89 in Chicago, IL versus $120 in Lebanon, NH. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $447 vs $467 – making Chicago, IL the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 Lebanon, NH

🕒 Local time

06:07 6:07 AM

07:07 7:07 AM

1 h ahead of Chicago, IL

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

2,746,388

25,477

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.896 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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Between locations

Chicago, IL Lebanon, NH 1,270 km ≈ 2 h nonstop flight

From you

Chicago, IL
Lebanon, NH

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Chicago, IL vs Lebanon, NH: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,037 in Chicago, IL, $2,933 in Lebanon, NH – Lebanon, NH comes out roughly 3% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in utilities.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,555 per month in Chicago, IL and $4,400 in Lebanon, NH. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Lebanon, NH, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,576 there versus $2,526 in Chicago, IL.

Interestingly, groceries are about 4% cheaper in Chicago, IL – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89 in Chicago, IL and $120 in Lebanon, NH. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,037 in Chicago, IL and $2,933 in Lebanon, NH. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Lebanon, NH – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.