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

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 15.2% more expensive than Media, PA without rent, and 2.7% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 6.2% more expensive than Media, PA without rent, and 23.8% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Media, PA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$20.39 $20.39
2.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$80.4 $80.4
24.74%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$12.04 $12.04
-0.58%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$4.94 $4.94
12.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.36 $2.36
31.78%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$2.02 $2.02
19.80%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$6.1 $6.1
12.46%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$7.62 $7.62
10.89%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Media, PA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.1 $1.1
-5.45%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$3.79 $3.79
9.50%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$4.55 $4.55
21.32%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$4.48 $4.48
3.79%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$13.64 $13.64
5.06%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$12.18 $12.18
22.17%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$16.09 $16.09
20.20%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$7.04 $7.04
-26.56%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.55 $1.55
10.32%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$6.98 $6.98
-36.82%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$5.27 $5.27
-14.42%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$3.29 $3.29
-23.10%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$3.03 $3.03
-9.57%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.55 $2.55
-4.71%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.42 $2.42
11.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$12.66 $12.66
19.98%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$14.42 $14.42
13.87%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$2.25 $2.25
4.44%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$3.93 $3.93
-5.85%
🚌 Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Media, PA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$1.95 $1.95
29.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$1.76 $1.76
89.77%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.34 $1.34
5.97%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$21.76 $21.76
16.82%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.91 $0.91
18.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$25.4K $25.4K
27.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$25.8K $25.8K
1.80%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Media, PA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$266 $266
-29.20%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$56.9 $56.9
11.95%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$77 $77
-15.37%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Media, PA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$43.55 $43.55
76.17%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$14.89 $14.89
0.27%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Media, PA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,298 $1,298
58.96%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$33.4K $33.4K
17.36%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Media, PA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$50.4 $50.4
27.52%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$42.53 $42.53
23.18%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$86.8 $86.8
9.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$111 $111
30.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Media, PA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,745 $1,745
36.27%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,599 $1,599
-0.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$2,562 $2,562
85.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$2,112 $2,112
33.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$3,176 $3,176
12.98%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,321 $2,321
7.30%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Media, PA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$5,083 $5,083
3.78%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.59
0.15%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Media, PA: October 27, 2025

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