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

🙂 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 23.1% cheaper than New York, NY without rent, and 32.3% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 23.6% cheaper than New York, NY without rent, and 36.2% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$29.68 $29.68

-29.85%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$144 $144

-30.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$12.43 $12.43

-3.70%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$5.84 $5.84

-4.79%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$3.26 $3.26

-4.60%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.58 $2.58

-6.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$8.24 $8.24

-16.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$11.86 $11.86

-28.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.56 $1.56

-33.33%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$5.23 $5.23

-20.65%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$8.11 $8.11

-31.94%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$7.25 $7.25

-35.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$17.08 $17.08

-16.10%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$16.24 $16.24

-8.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$20.02 $20.02

-3.40%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$7.49 $7.49

-30.97%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$2.55 $2.55

-32.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$5.82 $5.82

-24.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$6.52 $6.52

-30.83%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$3.72 $3.72

-31.99%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$3.9 $3.9

-29.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$3.07 $3.07

-20.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$2.57 $2.57

5.06%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$19.21 $19.21

-20.93%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$17.79 $17.79

-7.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$3.01 $3.01

-21.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$3.72 $3.72

-0.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.92 $2.92

-13.36%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

$134 $134

-44.67%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$5.13 $5.13

-34.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$2.15 $2.15

-33.95%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$41.57 $41.57

-38.85%

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

$35K $35K

-7.46%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$27.7K $27.7K

-5.35%

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

$188 $188

$179 $179

5.39%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$60 $60

6.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$63.8 $63.8

2.15%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$141 $141

-45.48%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

$63.9 $63.9

-79.61%

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$19.9 $19.9

-24.97%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$3,206 $3,206

-35.68%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$56.5K $56.5K

-30.62%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$65.7 $65.7

-2.13%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$48.75 $48.75

7.47%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$111 $111

-14.35%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$172 $172

-15.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$4,165 $4,165

-42.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$2,653 $2,653

-40.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$8,412 $8,412

-43.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$5,277 $5,277

-46.66%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$15.6K $15.6K

-77.03%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$11.2K $11.2K

-77.68%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$5,616 $5,616

-6.07%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.44

2.48%

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 York, NY: October 28, 2025

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