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

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 34.9% more expensive than Mechanicsburg, PA without rent, and 17.5% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 16.4% more expensive than Mechanicsburg, PA without rent, and 24.9% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Mechanicsburg, PA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$24.68 $24.68
-15.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$64.6 $64.6
55.30%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$10.89 $10.89
9.92%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$5.45 $5.45
2.02%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$1.96 $1.96
58.67%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$1.49 $1.49
62.42%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$6.93 $6.93
-1.01%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$9.19 $9.19
-8.05%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Mechanicsburg, PA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.15 $1.15
-9.57%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$3.72 $3.72
11.56%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$2.05 $2.05
169.27%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$3.66 $3.66
27.05%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$19.47 $19.47
-26.40%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$10.19 $10.19
46.03%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$15.71 $15.71
23.11%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$4.29 $4.29
20.51%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.27 $1.27
34.65%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$2.66 $2.66
65.79%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$4.3 $4.3
4.88%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.99 $2.99
-15.38%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$2.25 $2.25
21.78%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$1.69 $1.69
43.79%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.77 $2.77
-2.53%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$12.2 $12.2
24.51%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$16.76 $16.76
-2.03%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.98 $1.98
18.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$3.4 $3.4
8.82%
🚌 Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Mechanicsburg, PA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$1.96 $1.96
29.08%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$2.78 $2.78
20.14%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.43 $1.43
-0.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$25.1 $25.1
1.27%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.88 $0.88
22.73%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$31.3K $31.3K
3.51%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$24.5K $24.5K
6.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Mechanicsburg, PA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$125 $125
50.02%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$44.29 $44.29
43.82%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$71.1 $71.1
-8.32%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Mechanicsburg, PA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$42.53 $42.53
80.39%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$14.82 $14.82
0.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Mechanicsburg, PA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,917 $1,917
7.59%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$36.5K $36.5K
7.25%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Mechanicsburg, PA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$55.2 $55.2
16.42%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$54.1 $54.1
-3.16%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$92 $92
3.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$118 $118
22.66%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Mechanicsburg, PA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,576 $1,576
50.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,335 $1,335
18.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$2,630 $2,630
81.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$2,257 $2,257
24.71%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$2,698 $2,698
32.97%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,526 $2,526
-1.40%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Mechanicsburg, PA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$5,271 $5,271
0.07%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.55
0.76%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Mechanicsburg, PA: October 27, 2025

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