Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Oak Harbor, WA

For one person, living is cheaper in Chicago, IL: $3,037 a month against $3,321 in Oak Harbor, WA, rent and utilities included – about $3,400 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
159

Cost of Living Index in Oak Harbor, WA
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Oak Harbor, WA Living Index

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Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,037

/mo nomad

Oak Harbor, WA

🇺🇸 United States

$3,321

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chicago, IL and in Oak Harbor, WA

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 Oak Harbor, WA actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,037 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,321 in Oak Harbor, WA, rent included.

Chicago, IL $3,037
Oak Harbor, WA $3,321

A couple spends around $4,518 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,592 in Oak Harbor, WA, rent included.

Chicago, IL $4,518
Oak Harbor, WA $4,592

A family of three spends $5,999 per month in Chicago, IL vs $5,863 in Oak Harbor, WA, rent included.

Chicago, IL $5,999
Oak Harbor, WA $5,863

Chicago, IL is about 9% cheaper than Oak Harbor, WA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chicago, IL and Oak Harbor, WA sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 123%, Oak Harbor, WA by 144%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.71 $20.71

$17.65 $17.65

17.34%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$89.2 $89.2

$71.2 $71.2

25.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.19 $13.19

$18.51 $18.51

-28.74%

Cappuccino

$5.66 $5.66

$5.35 $5.35

5.79%

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

$2.64 $2.64

$2.33 $2.33

13.30%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 $2.28

$1.53 $1.53

49.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.87 $6.87

$7.80 $7.80

-11.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.84 $8.84

$7.60 $7.60

16.32%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.25 $1.25

$1.63 $1.63

-23.31%

White Bread (500g)

$3.72 $3.72

$4.45 $4.45

-16.40%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$6.86 $6.86

-21.43%

Eggs

$4.74 $4.74

$5.64 $5.64

-15.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.84 $13.84

$19.88 $19.88

-30.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.40 $14.40

$12.82 $12.82

12.32%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.38 $18.38

$24.85 $24.85

-26.04%

Apples (1kg)

$5.22 $5.22

$8.19 $8.19

-36.26%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.33 $1.33

48.87%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.06 $4.06

$6.93 $6.93

-41.41%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.97 $4.97

$6.78 $6.78

-26.70%

Potato (1kg)

$2.67 $2.67

$4.21 $4.21

-36.58%

Onion (1kg)

$2.66 $2.66

$4.62 $4.62

-42.42%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.24 $2.24

$2.61 $2.61

-14.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.13 $3.13

$2.17 $2.17

44.24%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.82 $13.82

$9.86 $9.86

40.16%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.88 $14.88

$14.21 $14.21

4.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.54 $2.54

$2.72 $2.72

-6.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.51 $3.51

$4.03 $4.03

-12.90%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.03 $2.03

19.70%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$73.5 $73.5

$59.2 $59.2

24.21%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.18 $3.18

$3.27 $3.27

-2.75%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.39 $1.39

$1.90 $1.90

-26.84%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.03 $25.03

$27.38 $27.38

-8.58%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 $1.20

$1.16 $1.16

3.45%

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

$35.0K $35.0K

$27.5K $27.5K

27.59%

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

$26.7K $26.7K

$25.9K $25.9K

3.07%

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

$194 $194

$391 $391

-50.29%

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

$69.5 $69.5

$61.4 $61.4

13.09%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.6 $61.6

$97.5 $97.5

-36.81%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.90 $47.90

$34.29 $34.29

39.69%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.34 $27.34

Cinema Ticket

$17.81 $17.81

$14.86 $14.86

19.85%

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

$1,794 $1,794

$1,347 $1,347

33.21%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.9K $31.9K

$23.7K $23.7K

34.85%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.0 $67.0

$58.8 $58.8

13.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.1 $52.1

$37.05 $37.05

40.73%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 $102

$131 $131

-22.26%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$144 $144

$196 $196

-26.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,526 $2,526

$2,300 $2,300

9.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,578 $1,578

0.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,738 $4,738

$3,235 $3,235

46.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,693 $2,693

$2,299 $2,299

17.15%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,190 $4,190

$4,057 $4,057

3.28%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,768 $2,768

$4,130 $4,130

-32.98%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,931 $4,931

$3,305 $3,305

49.19%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.81

-2.71%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 25, 2026

Last update for Oak Harbor, WA: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52%

Oak Harbor, WA

$1.6K 47.5% 0% $0.3

Groceries & Markets

Chicago, IL

$447 14.7%

Oak Harbor, WA

$528 15.9% 18% $81

Eating Out

Chicago, IL

$345 11.4%

Oak Harbor, WA

$331 10% 4.1% $14

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chicago, IL

$326 10.7%

Oak Harbor, WA

$550 16.6% 69% $225

Clothing & Footwear

Chicago, IL

$164 5.4%

Oak Harbor, WA

$190 5.7% 15.9% $26

Getting Around

Chicago, IL

$93 3.1%

Oak Harbor, WA

$80 2.4% 14.2% $13

Sport & Entertainment

Chicago, IL

$84 2.8%

Oak Harbor, WA

$64 1.9% 23.3% $20

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,526 in Chicago, IL versus $2,300 in Oak Harbor, WA. 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 49% higher in Chicago, IL, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89 in Chicago, IL versus $71 in Oak Harbor, WA. Groceries tell a different story – $447 in Chicago, IL vs $528 in Oak Harbor, WA – so Chicago, IL wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 Oak Harbor, WA

🕒 Local time

17:16 5:16 PM

15:16 3:16 PM

2 h behind Chicago, IL

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

2,746,388

24,622

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.896 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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Between locations

Chicago, IL Oak Harbor, WA 2,810 km ≈ 4 h nonstop flight

From you

Chicago, IL
Oak Harbor, WA

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 Oak Harbor, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,037 in Chicago, IL, $3,321 in Oak Harbor, WA – Chicago, IL comes out roughly 9% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,555 per month in Chicago, IL and $4,981 in Oak Harbor, WA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A central 1-bedroom goes for about $2,526 in Chicago, IL and $2,300 in Oak Harbor, WA. The gap holds across neighborhoods – outer areas show a similar spread, just at lower price points.

Groceries cost about 18% more in Oak Harbor, WA, though the gap depends on what you buy.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89 in Chicago, IL and $71 in Oak Harbor, WA. 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 $3,321 in Oak Harbor, WA. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $3,037 in Chicago, IL to $3,321 in Oak Harbor, WA. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.