Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and New Paltz, NY Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and New Paltz, NY

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 38.2% more expensive than New Paltz, NY without rent, and 12.4% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 25% more expensive than New Paltz, NY without rent, and 20.4% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chicago, IL
New Paltz, NY
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$17.27 $17.27
20.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$101 $101
-1.10%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$12.19 $12.19
-1.80%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$5.92 $5.92
-6.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.28 $2.28
36.40%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$1.59 $1.59
52.20%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$7.17 $7.17
-4.32%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$6.9 $6.9
22.46%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
New Paltz, NY
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.26 $1.26
-17.46%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$4.36 $4.36
-4.82%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$5.72 $5.72
-3.50%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$6.53 $6.53
-28.79%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$14.14 $14.14
1.34%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$10.23 $10.23
45.45%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$19.47 $19.47
-0.67%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$5.61 $5.61
-7.84%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$2.61 $2.61
-34.48%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$4.37 $4.37
0.92%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$4.24 $4.24
6.37%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.97 $2.97
-14.81%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$2.57 $2.57
6.61%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.82 $2.82
-13.83%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.72 $2.72
-0.74%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$15.92 $15.92
-4.59%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$14.91 $14.91
10.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.79 $1.79
31.28%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$4.35 $4.35
-14.94%
🚌 Getting Around
Chicago, IL
New Paltz, NY
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.04 $2.04
24.02%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$3.01 $3.01
10.96%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.58 $1.58
-10.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$42.77 $42.77
-40.57%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.95 $0.95
13.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$23.5K $23.5K
37.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$25K $25K
4.69%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
New Paltz, NY
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$217 $217
-13.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$54.6 $54.6
16.58%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$51 $51
27.89%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
New Paltz, NY
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$47.45 $47.45
61.69%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$9.08 $9.08
64.43%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
New Paltz, NY
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,745 $1,745
18.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$15.7K $15.7K
149.60%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
New Paltz, NY
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$49.87 $49.87
28.96%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$80 $80
-34.50%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$87.3 $87.3
9.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$97 $97
49.16%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
New Paltz, NY
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,384 $1,384
71.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,350 $1,350
17.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$2,599 $2,599
83.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$2,222 $2,222
26.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$2,365 $2,365
51.70%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,613 $2,613
-4.71%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
New Paltz, NY
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$3,538 $3,538
49.08%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.74
-2.08%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for New Paltz, NY: October 28, 2025

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