Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Oyster Bay, NY Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Oyster Bay, NY

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,009 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,476 in Oyster Bay, NY, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,593 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,770 in Oyster Bay, NY, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,177 per month in Chicago, IL vs $5,065 in Oyster Bay, NY, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 22% more than Oyster Bay, NY, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Chicago, IL and Oyster Bay, NY sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 125%, Oyster Bay, NY by 85%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.35 $20.35

$17.20 $17.20

18.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$102 $102

$99.4 $99.4

2.31%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.98 $11.98

$12.18 $12.18

-1.64%

Cappuccino

$5.70 $5.70

$5.49 $5.49

3.83%

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

$3.00 $3.00

$2.39 $2.39

25.52%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$1.62 $1.62

51.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.87 $6.87

$7.17 $7.17

-4.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.09 $8.09

$7.21 $7.21

12.21%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.03 $1.03

$1.26 $1.26

-18.25%

White Bread (500g)

$3.95 $3.95

$3.75 $3.75

5.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.42 $5.42

$5.37 $5.37

0.93%

Eggs

$4.50 $4.50

$4.88 $4.88

-7.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.53 $14.53

$13.99 $13.99

3.86%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.89 $14.89

$10.15 $10.15

46.70%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.98 $18.98

$17.51 $17.51

8.40%

Apples (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$5.01 $5.01

7.58%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 $1.77

$1.72 $1.72

2.91%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.35 $4.35

$3.89 $3.89

11.83%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.53 $4.53

$4.22 $4.22

7.35%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.88 $2.88

-12.15%

Onion (1kg)

$2.81 $2.81

$2.52 $2.52

11.51%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.51 $2.51

$2.39 $2.39

5.02%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.67 $2.67

$2.60 $2.60

2.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.88 $14.88

$11.87 $11.87

25.36%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.22 $15.22

$14.93 $14.93

1.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$1.69 $1.69

45.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.53 $3.53

$4.45 $4.45

-20.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.56 $2.56

$1.99 $1.99

28.64%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.3 $74.3

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.19 $3.19

$3.07 $3.07

3.91%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.41 $1.41

$2.08 $2.08

-32.21%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.49 $25.49

$24.22 $24.22

5.24%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$0.87 $0.87

19.54%

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

$32.2K $32.2K

$23.8K $23.8K

35.36%

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

$26.8K $26.8K

$25.2K $25.2K

6.26%

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

$184 $184

$127 $127

45.21%

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

$63.1 $63.1

$44.31 $44.31

42.43%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.4 $66.4

$58.1 $58.1

14.28%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.9 $75.9

$43.71 $43.71

73.67%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.06 $13.06

Cinema Ticket

$15.25 $15.25

$17.29 $17.29

-11.80%

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

$2,090 $2,090

$1,767 $1,767

18.27%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$16.0K $16.0K

145.58%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.2 $64.2

$49.86 $49.86

28.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.0 $51.0

$63.1 $63.1

-19.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.2 $97.2

$76.1 $76.1

27.67%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$149 $149

$98.0 $98.0

51.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,341 $2,341

$1,603 $1,603

46.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,572 $1,572

$1,350 $1,350

16.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,741 $4,741

$2,584 $2,584

83.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,819 $2,819

$2,249 $2,249

25.36%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,900 $3,900

$2,302 $2,302

69.44%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,638 $2,638

$2,358 $2,358

11.90%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,769 $4,769

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.62

-0.30%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: April 25, 2026

Last update for Oyster Bay, NY: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,341 in Chicago, IL versus $1,603 in Oyster Bay, NY. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $102 in Chicago, IL versus $99.0 in Oyster Bay, NY. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $447 vs $410 – making Oyster Bay, NY the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Oyster Bay, NY: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,009 in Chicago, IL, $2,476 in Oyster Bay, NY – roughly 22% apart. Chicago, IL costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,513 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,714 in Oyster Bay, NY. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Oyster Bay, NY, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $102 in Chicago, IL and $99.0 in Oyster Bay, NY. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 9% more in Chicago, IL, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,009 in Chicago, IL and $2,476 in Oyster Bay, NY. 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 $2,476 in Oyster Bay, NY to $3,009 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Oyster Bay, NY. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chicago, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.