Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Norwalk, CT Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Norwalk, CT

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 12.7% more expensive than Norwalk, CT without rent, and 5.4% cheaper with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 37.6% more expensive than Norwalk, CT without rent, and 21.3% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Norwalk, CT
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$16.31 $16.31
27.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$75.6 $75.6
32.69%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$9.87 $9.87
21.28%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$5.9 $5.9
-5.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.84 $2.84
9.51%
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
$8.14 $8.14
-15.72%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$8.24 $8.24
2.55%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Norwalk, CT
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$0.98 $0.98
6.12%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$4.75 $4.75
-12.63%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$6.38 $6.38
-13.48%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$5.36 $5.36
-13.25%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$13.92 $13.92
2.95%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$12.43 $12.43
19.71%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$15.21 $15.21
27.15%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$3.66 $3.66
41.26%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.55 $1.55
10.32%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$5.52 $5.52
-20.11%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$6.3 $6.3
-28.41%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.79 $2.79
-9.32%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$3.08 $3.08
-11.04%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.65 $2.65
-8.30%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.29 $2.29
17.90%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$13.1 $13.1
15.95%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$18.8 $18.8
-12.66%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$2.52 $2.52
-6.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$3.65 $3.65
1.37%
🚌 Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Norwalk, CT
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$1.98 $1.98
27.78%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$3.08 $3.08
8.44%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$2.04 $2.04
-30.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$42.42 $42.42
-40.08%
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
$25.5K $25.5K
27.26%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$23.8K $23.8K
10.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Norwalk, CT
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$162 $162
15.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$34.62 $34.62
84.00%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$44.3 $44.3
47.18%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Norwalk, CT
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$43.44 $43.44
76.61%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$14.36 $14.36
3.97%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Norwalk, CT
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,941 $1,941
6.24%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$14.2K $14.2K
176.64%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Norwalk, CT
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$61.8 $61.8
4.10%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$59.8 $59.8
-12.42%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$110 $110
-13.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$134 $134
8.09%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Norwalk, CT
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$2,256 $2,256
5.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,974 $1,974
-19.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$2,673 $2,673
78.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$2,191 $2,191
28.48%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$3,856 $3,856
-6.95%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$3,847 $3,847
-35.27%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Norwalk, CT
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$5,795 $5,795
-8.97%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.45
2.33%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Norwalk, CT: October 28, 2025

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