Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Lower Burrell, PA Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Lower Burrell, PA

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,084 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,702 in Lower Burrell, PA, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,637 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,830 in Lower Burrell, PA, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,191 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,958 in Lower Burrell, PA, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 14% more than Lower Burrell, PA, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Chicago, IL and Lower Burrell, PA sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 131%, Lower Burrell, PA by 102%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.81 $20.81

$17.88 $17.88

16.39%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.6 $98.6

$55.3 $55.3

78.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.90 $11.90

$8.84 $8.84

34.62%

Cappuccino

$5.84 $5.84

$5.52 $5.52

5.80%

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

$3.07 $3.07

$2.22 $2.22

38.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.72 $1.72

36.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.87 $6.87

$3.98 $3.98

72.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.07 $8.07

$5.10 $5.10

58.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$0.87 $0.87

20.69%

White Bread (500g)

$3.98 $3.98

$2.99 $2.99

33.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.60 $5.60

$4.32 $4.32

29.63%

Eggs

$4.55 $4.55

$3.97 $3.97

14.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.20 $14.20

$9.65 $9.65

47.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.90 $14.90

$12.18 $12.18

22.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.08 $19.08

$19.84 $19.84

-3.83%

Apples (1kg)

$5.31 $5.31

$4.42 $4.42

20.14%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.49 $1.49

14.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.24 $4.24

$3.43 $3.43

23.62%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.37 $4.37

$4.04 $4.04

8.17%

Potato (1kg)

$2.56 $2.56

$4.06 $4.06

-36.95%

Onion (1kg)

$2.80 $2.80

$4.87 $4.87

-42.51%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.60 $2.60

-5.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.70 $2.70

$2.38 $2.38

13.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.95 $14.95

$10.07 $10.07

48.46%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.73 $14.73

$15.18 $15.18

-2.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.37 $2.37

$2.02 $2.02

17.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.57 $3.57

$2.98 $2.98

19.80%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.44 $2.44

$2.02 $2.02

20.79%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.2 $75.2

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.35 $3.35

$2.78 $2.78

20.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.37 $1.37

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.29 $25.29

$25.49 $25.49

-0.78%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.83 $0.83

31.33%

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

$32.3K $32.3K

$34.0K $34.0K

-5.12%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$25.9K $25.9K

1.98%

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

$188 $188

$307 $307

-38.80%

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

$63.3 $63.3

$49.76 $49.76

27.13%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.2 $66.2

$63.8 $63.8

3.81%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.6 $75.6

$43.27 $43.27

74.62%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.20 $13.20

Cinema Ticket

$14.80 $14.80

$13.27 $13.27

11.53%

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

$2,097 $2,097

$995 $995

110.71%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$38.5K $38.5K

$18.8K $18.8K

104.78%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.9 $64.9

$56.0 $56.0

15.88%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.6 $51.6

$46.24 $46.24

11.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.3 $96.3

$80.2 $80.2

20.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$146 $146

$141 $141

3.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,332 $2,332

$1,614 $1,614

44.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,579 $1,579

$1,342 $1,342

17.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,775 $4,775

$2,631 $2,631

81.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,725 $2,725

$2,235 $2,235

21.95%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,023 $4,023

$2,909 $2,909

38.32%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,684 $2,684

$2,221 $2,221

20.84%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,981 $4,981

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.57

0.46%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: July 20, 2026

Last update for Lower Burrell, PA: July 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,332 in Chicago, IL versus $1,614 in Lower Burrell, PA. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $99.0 in Chicago, IL versus $55.0 in Lower Burrell, PA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $445 vs $393 – making Lower Burrell, PA the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Lower Burrell, PA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,084 in Chicago, IL, $2,702 in Lower Burrell, PA – roughly 14% apart. Chicago, IL costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,626 per month in Chicago, IL and $4,054 in Lower Burrell, PA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Lower Burrell, PA, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $99.0 in Chicago, IL and $55.0 in Lower Burrell, PA. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 13% more in Chicago, IL, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,084 in Chicago, IL and $2,702 in Lower Burrell, PA. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,702 in Lower Burrell, PA to $3,084 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Lower Burrell, PA. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chicago, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.