Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Olympia, WA Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Olympia, WA

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 6.1% more expensive than Olympia, WA without rent, and 8.2% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 18.2% more expensive than Olympia, WA without rent, and 25.1% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Olympia, WA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$19.72 $19.72
5.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$69.7 $69.7
44.04%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$12.1 $12.1
-1.07%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$4.78 $4.78
16.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.59 $2.59
20.08%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$1.89 $1.89
28.04%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$7.04 $7.04
-2.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$6.15 $6.15
37.40%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Olympia, WA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1 $1
4.00%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$3.67 $3.67
13.08%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$4.31 $4.31
28.07%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$4.4 $4.4
5.68%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$15.13 $15.13
-5.29%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$10.68 $10.68
39.33%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$15.13 $15.13
27.83%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$5.31 $5.31
-2.64%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.55 $1.55
10.32%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$4.36 $4.36
1.15%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$4.9 $4.9
-7.96%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$3 $3
-15.67%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$2.13 $2.13
28.64%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.32 $2.32
4.74%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.24 $2.24
20.54%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$10.79 $10.79
40.78%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$14.83 $14.83
10.72%
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
$4.54 $4.54
-18.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Olympia, WA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$0.34 $0.34
644.12%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$3.87 $3.87
-13.70%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.93 $1.93
-26.42%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$36.48 $36.48
-30.32%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$1.06 $1.06
1.89%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$33.5K $33.5K
-3.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$25.8K $25.8K
1.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Olympia, WA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$121 $121
55.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$60.5 $60.5
5.27%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$63.3 $63.3
2.97%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Olympia, WA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$58.5 $58.5
31.21%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
$10.08 $10.08
29.27%
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$10.93 $10.93
36.60%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Olympia, WA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,469 $1,469
40.45%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$18.9K $18.9K
107.23%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Olympia, WA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$52 $52
23.63%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$47.38 $47.38
10.57%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$91.8 $91.8
3.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$99.4 $99.4
45.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Olympia, WA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,699 $1,699
39.96%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,601 $1,601
-1.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$2,772 $2,772
71.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$2,278 $2,278
23.55%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$3,163 $3,163
13.43%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,928 $2,928
-14.95%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Olympia, WA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$4,802 $4,802
9.85%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.41
2.96%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Olympia, WA: October 29, 2025

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