Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and North East, MD Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and North East, MD

🙂 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 8.4% cheaper than North East, MD without rent, and 12.9% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 3.2% more expensive than North East, MD without rent, and 14.9% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chicago, IL
North East, MD
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$24.13 $24.13
-13.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$91 $91
10.29%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$10.94 $10.94
9.41%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$5.63 $5.63
-1.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.89 $2.89
7.61%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$2.62 $2.62
-7.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$8.05 $8.05
-14.78%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$8.94 $8.94
-5.48%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
North East, MD
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.18 $1.18
-11.86%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$3.8 $3.8
9.21%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$6.93 $6.93
-20.35%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$4.22 $4.22
10.19%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$19.2 $19.2
-25.36%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$14.79 $14.79
0.61%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$25.41 $25.41
-23.89%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$6.79 $6.79
-23.86%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.79 $1.79
-4.47%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$5.26 $5.26
-16.16%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$5.75 $5.75
-21.57%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$4.24 $4.24
-40.33%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$3.32 $3.32
-17.47%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.31 $2.31
5.19%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.86 $2.86
-5.59%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$11.88 $11.88
27.86%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$16.88 $16.88
-2.73%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.9 $1.9
23.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$3.36 $3.36
10.12%
🚌 Getting Around
Chicago, IL
North East, MD
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.05 $2.05
23.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$2.89 $2.89
15.57%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.42 $1.42
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$24.54 $24.54
3.59%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.86 $0.86
25.58%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$31.2K $31.2K
3.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$25.2K $25.2K
4.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
North East, MD
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$128 $128
47.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$43.95 $43.95
44.94%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$71 $71
-8.17%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
North East, MD
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$43.02 $43.02
78.34%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$14.72 $14.72
1.43%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
North East, MD
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,891 $1,891
9.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$35.4K $35.4K
10.79%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
North East, MD
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$56.3 $56.3
14.19%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$53.7 $53.7
-2.35%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$91.5 $91.5
4.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$118 $118
22.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
North East, MD
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,621 $1,621
46.66%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,358 $1,358
16.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$2,650 $2,650
79.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$2,230 $2,230
26.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$2,390 $2,390
50.12%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,732 $2,732
-8.83%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
North East, MD
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.55
0.76%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for North East, MD: October 29, 2025

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