Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Maricopa, AZ

For one person, living is cheaper in Maricopa, AZ: $2,504 a month against $3,037 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $6,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

147

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
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Chicago, IL Living Index
120

Cost of Living Index in Maricopa, AZ
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Maricopa, AZ Living Index

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Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,037

/mo nomad

Maricopa, AZ

🇺🇸 United States

$2,504

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chicago, IL and in Maricopa, AZ

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 Maricopa, AZ actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,037 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,504 in Maricopa, AZ, rent included.

Chicago, IL $3,037
Maricopa, AZ $2,504

A couple spends around $4,518 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,476 in Maricopa, AZ, rent included.

Chicago, IL $4,518
Maricopa, AZ $3,476

A family of three spends $5,999 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,448 in Maricopa, AZ, rent included.

Chicago, IL $5,999
Maricopa, AZ $4,448

Chicago, IL costs about 21% more than Maricopa, AZ, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both Chicago, IL and Maricopa, AZ sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 123%, Maricopa, AZ by 84%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.71 $20.71

$19.62 $19.62

5.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$89.2 $89.2

$78.9 $78.9

13.08%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.19 $13.19

$12.84 $12.84

2.73%

Cappuccino

$5.66 $5.66

$5.17 $5.17

9.48%

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

$2.64 $2.64

$2.77 $2.77

-4.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 $2.28

$2.25 $2.25

1.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.87 $6.87

$6.92 $6.92

-0.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.84 $8.84

$7.50 $7.50

17.87%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.25 $1.25

$0.97 $0.97

28.87%

White Bread (500g)

$3.72 $3.72

$2.99 $2.99

24.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$5.00 $5.00

7.80%

Eggs

$4.74 $4.74

$4.58 $4.58

3.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.84 $13.84

$13.28 $13.28

4.22%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.40 $14.40

$11.42 $11.42

26.09%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.38 $18.38

$17.16 $17.16

7.11%

Apples (1kg)

$5.22 $5.22

$4.64 $4.64

12.50%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.94 $1.94

2.06%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.06 $4.06

$3.91 $3.91

3.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.97 $4.97

$4.13 $4.13

20.34%

Potato (1kg)

$2.67 $2.67

$2.46 $2.46

8.54%

Onion (1kg)

$2.66 $2.66

$2.93 $2.93

-9.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.24 $2.24

$2.10 $2.10

6.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.13 $3.13

$2.14 $2.14

46.26%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.82 $13.82

$11.00 $11.00

25.64%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.88 $14.88

$9.17 $9.17

62.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.54 $2.54

$2.53 $2.53

0.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.51 $3.51

$3.78 $3.78

-7.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.97 $1.97

23.35%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$73.5 $73.5

$60.9 $60.9

20.68%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.18 $3.18

$2.70 $2.70

17.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.39 $1.39

$1.35 $1.35

2.96%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.03 $25.03

$35.30 $35.30

-29.09%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 $1.20

$1.10 $1.10

9.09%

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

$35.0K $35.0K

$36.7K $36.7K

-4.64%

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

$26.7K $26.7K

$26.4K $26.4K

1.16%

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

$194 $194

$147 $147

32.17%

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

$69.5 $69.5

$62.1 $62.1

11.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.6 $61.6

$64.0 $64.0

-3.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.90 $47.90

$45.04 $45.04

6.35%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.34 $27.34

Cinema Ticket

$17.81 $17.81

$12.77 $12.77

39.47%

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

$1,794 $1,794

$1,078 $1,078

66.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.9K $31.9K

$15.6K $15.6K

105.38%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.0 $67.0

$31.64 $31.64

111.82%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.1 $52.1

$24.67 $24.67

111.35%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 $102

$64.5 $64.5

57.36%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$144 $144

$75.4 $75.4

90.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,526 $2,526

$1,535 $1,535

64.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,578 $1,578

$1,283 $1,283

23.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,738 $4,738

$1,897 $1,897

149.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,693 $2,693

$1,679 $1,679

60.38%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,190 $4,190

$2,536 $2,536

65.20%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,768 $2,768

$2,193 $2,193

26.19%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,931 $4,931

$6,490 $6,490

-24.03%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.81

70.25%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 25, 2026

Last update for Maricopa, AZ: October 24, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52%

Maricopa, AZ

$1.3K 51.2% 18.7% $295

Groceries & Markets

Chicago, IL

$447 14.7%

Maricopa, AZ

$383 15.3% 14.3% $64

Eating Out

Chicago, IL

$345 11.4%

Maricopa, AZ

$327 13.1% 5.1% $18

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chicago, IL

$326 10.7%

Maricopa, AZ

$273 10.9% 16.1% $52

Clothing & Footwear

Chicago, IL

$164 5.4%

Maricopa, AZ

$88 3.5% 46.1% $76

Getting Around

Chicago, IL

$93 3.1%

Maricopa, AZ

$78 3.1% 16.2% $15

Sport & Entertainment

Chicago, IL

$84 2.8%

Maricopa, AZ

$71 2.8% 15.5% $13

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,526 in Chicago, IL versus $1,535 in Maricopa, AZ. 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 32% higher in Maricopa, AZ, 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 $79 in Maricopa, AZ. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $447 vs $383 – making Maricopa, AZ the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 Maricopa, AZ

🕒 Local time

17:55 5:55 PM

15:55 3:55 PM

2 h behind Chicago, IL

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

2,746,388

62,000

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.898 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

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Between locations

Chicago, IL Maricopa, AZ 2,360 km ≈ 3 h 30 min nonstop flight

From you

Chicago, IL
Maricopa, AZ

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 Maricopa, AZ: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,037 in Chicago, IL, $2,504 in Maricopa, AZ – Maricopa, AZ comes out roughly 18% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in clothing.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,555 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,756 in Maricopa, AZ. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Maricopa, AZ, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,535 there versus $2,526 in Chicago, IL.

Groceries cost about 17% more in Chicago, IL, though the gap depends on what you buy.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89 in Chicago, IL and $79 in Maricopa, AZ. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,037 in Chicago, IL and $2,504 in Maricopa, AZ. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

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

For expats, Maricopa, AZ is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and overall it costs about 18% less, which matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.