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

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 11.6% more expensive than Mesa, AZ without rent, and 7.1% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 33.5% more expensive than Mesa, AZ without rent, and 14.5% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Mesa, AZ
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$19.92 $19.92
4.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$74.2 $74.2
35.16%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$11.77 $11.77
1.70%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$5.95 $5.95
-6.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.72 $2.72
14.34%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$2.13 $2.13
13.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$5.94 $5.94
15.49%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$7.08 $7.08
19.35%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Mesa, AZ
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$0.84 $0.84
23.81%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$4.25 $4.25
-2.35%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$5.33 $5.33
3.56%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$4.82 $4.82
-3.53%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$11.95 $11.95
19.92%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$11.77 $11.77
26.42%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$15.22 $15.22
27.07%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$4.88 $4.88
5.94%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.95 $1.95
-12.31%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$4.04 $4.04
9.16%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$5.2 $5.2
-13.27%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$3.33 $3.33
-24.02%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$2.57 $2.57
6.61%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$1.95 $1.95
24.62%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.44 $2.44
10.66%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$9.07 $9.07
67.48%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$14.78 $14.78
11.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$2.19 $2.19
7.31%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$3.58 $3.58
3.35%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Mesa, AZ
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.03 $2.03
24.63%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
$44.12 $44.12
68.02%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$3.82 $3.82
-12.57%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.35 $1.35
5.19%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$35.46 $35.46
-28.31%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.92 $0.92
17.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$30.4K $30.4K
6.63%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$26.7K $26.7K
-1.97%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Mesa, AZ
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$256 $256
-26.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$70.1 $70.1
-9.12%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$85 $85
-23.31%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Mesa, AZ
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$42.82 $42.82
79.17%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$11.9 $11.9
25.46%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Mesa, AZ
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,122 $1,122
83.88%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$15.7K $15.7K
150.31%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Mesa, AZ
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$51.2 $51.2
25.61%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$38.89 $38.89
34.71%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$92.1 $92.1
3.37%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$120 $120
20.80%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Mesa, AZ
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,707 $1,707
39.27%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,336 $1,336
18.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$2,526 $2,526
88.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$2,320 $2,320
21.32%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$2,994 $2,994
19.83%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$3,480 $3,480
-28.45%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Mesa, AZ
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$4,146 $4,146
27.22%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.46
2.17%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Mesa, AZ: October 28, 2025

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