Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Niagara Falls, NY Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Niagara Falls, NY

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 17.3% more expensive than Niagara Falls, NY without rent, and 8.8% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 6.8% more expensive than Niagara Falls, NY without rent, and 15.8% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Niagara Falls, NY
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$25.12 $25.12
-17.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$94.5 $94.5
6.15%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$12.15 $12.15
-1.48%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$5.46 $5.46
1.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.68 $2.68
16.04%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$2.02 $2.02
19.80%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$6.92 $6.92
-0.87%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$7.65 $7.65
10.46%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Niagara Falls, NY
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$0.94 $0.94
10.64%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$3.8 $3.8
9.21%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$4.97 $4.97
11.07%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$3.88 $3.88
19.85%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$12.56 $12.56
14.09%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$8.34 $8.34
78.42%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$11.99 $11.99
61.30%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$5.95 $5.95
-13.11%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.56 $1.56
9.62%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$5.52 $5.52
-20.11%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$5.97 $5.97
-24.46%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$4.01 $4.01
-36.91%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$3.83 $3.83
-28.46%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.62 $2.62
-7.25%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.38 $2.38
13.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$13.14 $13.14
15.60%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$14.74 $14.74
11.40%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.71 $1.71
37.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$4.83 $4.83
-23.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Niagara Falls, NY
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.52 $2.52
0.40%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
$55.6 $55.6
33.42%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$3.99 $3.99
-16.29%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$2.22 $2.22
-36.04%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$30.21 $30.21
-15.86%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.97 $0.97
11.34%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$28.5K $28.5K
13.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$23.8K $23.8K
9.98%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Niagara Falls, NY
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$237 $237
-20.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$46.44 $46.44
37.17%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$74.8 $74.8
-12.88%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Niagara Falls, NY
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$42.53 $42.53
80.39%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$15.17 $15.17
-1.58%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Niagara Falls, NY
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$886 $886
132.75%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$17.6K $17.6K
122.98%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Niagara Falls, NY
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$46.35 $46.35
38.75%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$46.18 $46.18
13.45%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$95 $95
0.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$115 $115
25.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Niagara Falls, NY
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,034 $1,034
129.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,327 $1,327
19.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$1,438 $1,438
231.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$2,220 $2,220
26.82%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$1,861 $1,861
92.79%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$1,852 $1,852
34.43%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Niagara Falls, NY
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$1,604 $1,604
228.96%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.42
2.80%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Niagara Falls, NY: October 28, 2025

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