Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Mount Vernon, NY

For one person, living is cheaper in Mount Vernon, NY: $2,675 a month against $3,139 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $5,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

152

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
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Chicago, IL Living Index
132

Cost of Living Index in Mount Vernon, NY
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Mount Vernon, NY Living Index

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Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,139

/mo nomad

Mount Vernon, NY

🇺🇸 United States

$2,675

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chicago, IL and in Mount Vernon, NY

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 Mount Vernon, NY actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,139 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,675 in Mount Vernon, NY, rent included.

Chicago, IL $3,139
Mount Vernon, NY $2,675

A couple spends around $4,627 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,104 in Mount Vernon, NY, rent included.

Chicago, IL $4,627
Mount Vernon, NY $4,104

A family of three spends $6,115 per month in Chicago, IL vs $5,534 in Mount Vernon, NY, rent included.

Chicago, IL $6,115
Mount Vernon, NY $5,534

Chicago, IL costs about 17% more than Mount Vernon, NY, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both Chicago, IL and Mount Vernon, NY sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 132%, Mount Vernon, NY by 97%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.65 $20.65

$24.89 $24.89

-17.03%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$90.2 $90.2

$99.7 $99.7

-9.47%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.94 $12.94

$10.79 $10.79

19.93%

Cappuccino

$5.60 $5.60

$6.15 $6.15

-8.94%

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

$2.64 $2.64

$2.19 $2.19

20.55%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.27 $2.27

$1.60 $1.60

41.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.98 $6.98

$7.98 $7.98

-12.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.83 $8.83

$7.98 $7.98

10.65%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 $1.27

$1.31 $1.31

-3.05%

White Bread (500g)

$3.80 $3.80

$4.17 $4.17

-8.87%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.30 $5.30

$7.57 $7.57

-29.99%

Eggs

$4.76 $4.76

$5.95 $5.95

-20.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.96 $13.96

$12.32 $12.32

13.31%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.61 $14.61

$11.75 $11.75

24.34%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.77 $18.77

$16.95 $16.95

10.74%

Apples (1kg)

$5.19 $5.19

$5.30 $5.30

-2.08%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.79 $1.79

10.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.93 $3.93

$6.21 $6.21

-36.71%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.96 $4.96

$6.01 $6.01

-17.47%

Potato (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$4.09 $4.09

-32.52%

Onion (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$3.83 $3.83

-27.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.22 $2.22

$2.88 $2.88

-22.92%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.98 $2.98

$2.54 $2.54

17.32%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.02 $14.02

$11.86 $11.86

18.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.28 $15.28

$20.14 $20.14

-24.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$1.70 $1.70

51.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.50 $3.50

$3.83 $3.83

-8.62%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.06 $2.06

19.90%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.8 $74.8

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$3.06 $3.06

9.15%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.43 $1.43

$2.10 $2.10

-31.90%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.32 $24.32

$23.54 $23.54

3.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 $1.26

$1.12 $1.12

12.50%

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

$35.0K $35.0K

$27.8K $27.8K

25.99%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$25.5K $25.5K

2.09%

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

$193 $193

$212 $212

-9.19%

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

$68.3 $68.3

$74.8 $74.8

-8.71%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.3 $61.3

$64.3 $64.3

-4.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.1 $54.1

$39.42 $39.42

37.29%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.92 $27.92

Cinema Ticket

$17.74 $17.74

$14.62 $14.62

21.34%

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

$1,652 $1,652

$2,242 $2,242

-26.31%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.1K $31.1K

$24.1K $24.1K

28.96%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.1 $66.1

$40.81 $40.81

61.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.2 $51.2

$50.4 $50.4

1.67%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100 $100

$74.9 $74.9

33.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$141 $141

$135 $135

4.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,446 $2,446

$1,366 $1,366

79.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,678 $1,678

$1,256 $1,256

33.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,717 $4,717

$2,516 $2,516

87.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,795 $2,795

$2,295 $2,295

21.82%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,105 $4,105

$2,539 $2,539

61.66%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,650 $2,650

$2,089 $2,089

26.81%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,866 $4,866

$4,460 $4,460

9.10%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.81

6.75

0.89%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 19, 2026

Last update for Mount Vernon, NY: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Chicago, IL

$1.7K 53.5%

Mount Vernon, NY

$1.3K 46.9% 25.2% $422

Groceries & Markets

Chicago, IL

$449 14.3%

Mount Vernon, NY

$466 17.4% 3.7% $17

Eating Out

Chicago, IL

$343 10.9%

Mount Vernon, NY

$376 14.1% 9.6% $33

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chicago, IL

$322 10.3%

Mount Vernon, NY

$351 13.1% 9% $29

Clothing & Footwear

Chicago, IL

$161 5.1%

Mount Vernon, NY

$135 5.1% 16.1% $26

Getting Around

Chicago, IL

$95 3%

Mount Vernon, NY

$22 * 0.8% 77.1% $73

Sport & Entertainment

Chicago, IL

$90 2.9%

Mount Vernon, NY

$69 2.6% 23.4% $21

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,446 in Chicago, IL versus $1,366 in Mount Vernon, NY. 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 9% higher in Chicago, IL, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $90.0 in Chicago, IL versus $100 in Mount Vernon, NY. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $449 vs $466 – making Chicago, IL the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 Mount Vernon, NY

🕒 Local time

03:10 3:10 AM

04:10 4:10 AM

1 h ahead of Chicago, IL

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

2,746,388

73,893

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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Between locations

Chicago, IL Mount Vernon, NY 1,150 km ≈ 2 h nonstop flight

From you

Chicago, IL
Mount Vernon, NY

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 Mount Vernon, NY: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,139 in Chicago, IL, $2,675 in Mount Vernon, NY – roughly 17% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in transport.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,708 per month in Chicago, IL and $4,012 in Mount Vernon, NY. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Mount Vernon, NY, 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 $90.0 in Chicago, IL and $100 in Mount Vernon, NY. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 4% cheaper in Chicago, IL – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,139 in Chicago, IL and $2,675 in Mount Vernon, NY. 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 $2,675 in Mount Vernon, NY to $3,139 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Mount Vernon, NY. 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.