Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Chicago, IL: $3,037 a month against $3,507 in New Rochelle, NY, rent and utilities included – about $5,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

147

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
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Chicago, IL Living Index
170

Cost of Living Index in New Rochelle, NY
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New Rochelle, NY Living Index

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Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,037

/mo nomad

New Rochelle, NY

🇺🇸 United States

$3,507

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chicago, IL and in New Rochelle, 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 New Rochelle, NY actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,037 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,507 in New Rochelle, NY, rent included.

Chicago, IL $3,037
New Rochelle, NY $3,507

A couple spends around $4,518 per month in Chicago, IL vs $5,159 in New Rochelle, NY, rent included.

Chicago, IL $4,518
New Rochelle, NY $5,159

A family of three spends $5,999 per month in Chicago, IL vs $6,811 in New Rochelle, NY, rent included.

Chicago, IL $5,999
New Rochelle, NY $6,811

Chicago, IL is about 13% cheaper than New Rochelle, NY, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both Chicago, IL and New Rochelle, NY sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 123%, New Rochelle, NY by 158%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.71 $20.71

$24.97 $24.97

-17.06%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$89.2 $89.2

$79.9 $79.9

11.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.19 $13.19

$13.18 $13.18

0.08%

Cappuccino

$5.66 $5.66

$6.26 $6.26

-9.58%

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

$2.64 $2.64

$2.53 $2.53

4.35%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 $2.28

$1.58 $1.58

44.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.87 $6.87

$7.91 $7.91

-13.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.84 $8.84

$8.07 $8.07

9.54%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.25 $1.25

$1.26 $1.26

-0.79%

White Bread (500g)

$3.72 $3.72

$4.41 $4.41

-15.65%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$6.10 $6.10

-11.64%

Eggs

$4.74 $4.74

$5.99 $5.99

-20.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.84 $13.84

$12.70 $12.70

8.98%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.40 $14.40

$11.68 $11.68

23.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.38 $18.38

$17.37 $17.37

5.81%

Apples (1kg)

$5.22 $5.22

$5.97 $5.97

-12.56%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$3.58 $3.58

-44.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.06 $4.06

$4.35 $4.35

-6.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.97 $4.97

$5.40 $5.40

-7.96%

Potato (1kg)

$2.67 $2.67

$5.57 $5.57

-52.06%

Onion (1kg)

$2.66 $2.66

$3.76 $3.76

-29.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.24 $2.24

$2.86 $2.86

-21.68%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.13 $3.13

$3.05 $3.05

2.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.82 $13.82

$14.61 $14.61

-5.41%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.88 $14.88

$17.78 $17.78

-16.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.54 $2.54

$1.82 $1.82

39.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.51 $3.51

$5.02 $5.02

-30.08%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.70 $2.70

-10.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$73.5 $73.5

$128 $128

-42.50%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.18 $3.18

$2.98 $2.98

6.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.39 $1.39

$2.07 $2.07

-32.85%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.03 $25.03

$24.30 $24.30

3.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 $1.20

$1.12 $1.12

7.14%

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

$35.0K $35.0K

$27.1K $27.1K

29.22%

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

$26.7K $26.7K

$25.6K $25.6K

4.21%

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

$194 $194

$198 $198

-1.78%

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

$69.5 $69.5

$59.0 $59.0

17.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.6 $61.6

$64.9 $64.9

-4.99%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.90 $47.90

$34.77 $34.77

37.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.34 $27.34

$19.79 $19.79

38.15%

Cinema Ticket

$17.81 $17.81

$17.76 $17.76

0.28%

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

$1,794 $1,794

$2,010 $2,010

-10.74%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.9K $31.9K

$15.8K $15.8K

102.69%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.0 $67.0

$42.05 $42.05

59.38%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.1 $52.1

$35.83 $35.83

45.52%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 $102

$75.3 $75.3

34.89%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$144 $144

$135 $135

6.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,526 $2,526

$2,953 $2,953

-14.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,578 $1,578

$1,970 $1,970

-19.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,738 $4,738

$4,673 $4,673

1.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,693 $2,693

$3,396 $3,396

-20.72%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,190 $4,190

$5,455 $5,455

-23.20%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,768 $2,768

$3,276 $3,276

-15.52%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,931 $4,931

$6,594 $6,594

-25.23%

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 25, 2026

Last update for New Rochelle, NY: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52%

New Rochelle, NY

$2K 56.2% 24.9% $392

Groceries & Markets

Chicago, IL

$447 14.7%

New Rochelle, NY

$476 13.6% 6.5% $29

Eating Out

Chicago, IL

$345 11.4%

New Rochelle, NY

$387 11% 12.1% $42

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chicago, IL

$326 10.7%

New Rochelle, NY

$322 9.2% 1.1% $3.7

Clothing & Footwear

Chicago, IL

$164 5.4%

New Rochelle, NY

$129 3.7% 21.1% $35

Getting Around

Chicago, IL

$93 3.1%

New Rochelle, NY

$152 4.3% 62.7% $59

Sport & Entertainment

Chicago, IL

$84 2.8%

New Rochelle, NY

$70 2% 15.8% $13

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,526 in Chicago, IL versus $2,953 in New Rochelle, 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 34% higher in New Rochelle, NY. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89 in Chicago, IL versus $80 in New Rochelle, NY. Groceries tell a different story – $447 in Chicago, IL vs $476 in New Rochelle, NY – so Chicago, IL wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 New Rochelle, NY

🕒 Local time

15:30 3:30 PM

16:30 4:30 PM

1 h ahead of Chicago, IL

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

2,746,388

79,726

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.896 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

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Between locations

Chicago, IL New Rochelle, NY 1,160 km ≈ 2 h nonstop flight

From you

Chicago, IL
New Rochelle, 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 New Rochelle, NY: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,037 in Chicago, IL, $3,507 in New Rochelle, NY – Chicago, IL comes out roughly 13% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in transport.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,555 per month in Chicago, IL and $5,260 in New Rochelle, NY. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Chicago, IL, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $2,526 there versus $2,953 in New Rochelle, NY.

Groceries cost about 6% more in New Rochelle, NY, though the gap depends on what you buy.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89 in Chicago, IL and $80 in New Rochelle, NY. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,037 in Chicago, IL and $3,507 in New Rochelle, NY. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Chicago, IL – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Chicago, IL. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, New Rochelle, NY makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.