Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Palmer, AK Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Palmer, AK

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 12.6% more expensive than Palmer, AK without rent, and 13.4% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 20.2% more expensive than Palmer, AK without rent, and 23.3% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Palmer, AK
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$21.83 $21.83
-4.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$74.3 $74.3
35.05%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$12.88 $12.88
-7.07%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$5.35 $5.35
3.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.65 $2.65
17.36%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$1.97 $1.97
22.84%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$7.08 $7.08
-3.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$7.71 $7.71
9.60%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Palmer, AK
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.11 $1.11
-6.31%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$3.99 $3.99
4.01%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$4.51 $4.51
22.39%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$3.41 $3.41
36.36%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$12.35 $12.35
16.03%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$12.98 $12.98
14.64%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$20.35 $20.35
-4.96%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$7.61 $7.61
-32.06%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.97 $1.97
-13.20%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$8.16 $8.16
-45.96%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$7.14 $7.14
-36.83%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.34 $2.34
8.12%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$2.94 $2.94
-6.80%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.67 $2.67
-8.99%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.23 $2.23
21.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$11.61 $11.61
30.84%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$15.82 $15.82
3.79%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.78 $1.78
32.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$3.81 $3.81
-2.89%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Palmer, AK
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$0.97 $0.97
160.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
$29.48 $29.48
151.46%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$2.77 $2.77
20.58%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.73 $1.73
-17.92%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$37.92 $37.92
-32.96%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$1 $1
8.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$22.7K $22.7K
42.80%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$25.9K $25.9K
1.17%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Palmer, AK
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$288 $288
-34.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$52.5 $52.5
21.45%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$131 $131
-50.17%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Palmer, AK
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$87.8 $87.8
-12.63%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
$9.97 $9.97
30.69%
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$9.89 $9.89
50.96%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Palmer, AK
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$961 $961
114.68%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$10.4K $10.4K
275.26%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Palmer, AK
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$48.82 $48.82
31.73%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$44.81 $44.81
16.92%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$102 $102
-6.74%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$106 $106
36.61%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Palmer, AK
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,276 $1,276
86.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,122 $1,122
41.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$2,146 $2,146
122.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$1,752 $1,752
60.67%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$2,164 $2,164
65.84%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,043 $2,043
21.91%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Palmer, AK
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$4,825 $4,825
9.32%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
4.65
41.94%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Palmer, AK: October 27, 2025

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