Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Park City, UT Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Park City, UT

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,068 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,553 in Park City, UT, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,648 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,814 in Park City, UT, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,229 per month in Chicago, IL vs $5,075 in Park City, UT, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 20% more than Park City, UT, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Chicago, IL and Park City, UT sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 130%, Park City, UT by 91%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.17 $20.17

$18.47 $18.47

9.20%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.5 $99.5

$82.5 $82.5

20.61%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.23 $12.23

$11.11 $11.11

10.08%

Cappuccino

$5.60 $5.60

$3.96 $3.96

41.41%

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

$3.12 $3.12

$2.23 $2.23

39.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.73 $1.73

40.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.93 $6.93

$5.74 $5.74

20.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.20 $8.20

$6.63 $6.63

23.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.94 $0.94

14.89%

White Bread (500g)

$3.97 $3.97

$3.38 $3.38

17.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.58 $5.58

$3.96 $3.96

40.91%

Eggs

$4.47 $4.47

$3.64 $3.64

22.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.50 $14.50

$9.66 $9.66

50.10%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.08 $15.08

$10.46 $10.46

44.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$16.42 $16.42

17.78%

Apples (1kg)

$5.37 $5.37

$5.25 $5.25

2.29%

Banana (1kg)

$1.76 $1.76

$2.00 $2.00

-12.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.32 $4.32

$3.57 $3.57

21.01%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$4.74 $4.74

-6.96%

Potato (1kg)

$2.54 $2.54

$2.62 $2.62

-3.05%

Onion (1kg)

$2.70 $2.70

$2.60 $2.60

3.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.49 $2.49

$1.95 $1.95

27.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.60 $2.60

$1.96 $1.96

32.65%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.80 $14.80

$8.54 $8.54

73.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.18 $15.18

$15.08 $15.08

0.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$1.98 $1.98

24.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.60 $3.60

$2.49 $2.49

44.58%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.54 $2.54

$1.94 $1.94

30.93%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$76.3 $76.3

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.30 $3.30

$2.55 $2.55

29.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.38 $1.38

$1.46 $1.46

-5.48%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.36 $25.36

$24.78 $24.78

2.34%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.94 $0.94

15.96%

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

$31.6K $31.6K

$25.1K $25.1K

26.19%

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

$26.6K $26.6K

$25.9K $25.9K

2.49%

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

$186 $186

$175 $175

6.25%

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

$62.9 $62.9

$66.9 $66.9

-6.00%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.2 $66.2

$80.5 $80.5

-17.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$77.6 $77.6

$42.92 $42.92

80.85%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.16 $13.16

Cinema Ticket

$14.74 $14.74

$11.93 $11.93

23.55%

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

$2,039 $2,039

$991 $991

105.79%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.9K $39.9K

$18.6K $18.6K

113.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.9 $63.9

$54.6 $54.6

16.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.2 $51.2

$43.84 $43.84

16.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$105 $105

-9.56%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$144 $144

$110 $110

30.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,305 $2,305

$1,578 $1,578

46.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,575 $1,575

$1,340 $1,340

17.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,688 $4,688

$2,829 $2,829

65.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,737 $2,737

$2,495 $2,495

9.70%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,063 $4,063

$6,365 $6,365

-36.16%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,696 $2,696

$6,109 $6,109

-55.87%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,019 $5,019

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.49

1.69%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: July 11, 2026

Last update for Park City, UT: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,305 in Chicago, IL versus $1,578 in Park City, UT. 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 $99.0 in Chicago, IL versus $82.0 in Park City, UT. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $448 vs $370 – making Park City, UT 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 Park City, UT: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,068 in Chicago, IL, $2,553 in Park City, UT – roughly 20% apart. Chicago, IL costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,602 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,830 in Park City, UT. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Park City, UT, 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 $99.0 in Chicago, IL and $82.0 in Park City, UT. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 21% 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.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,068 in Chicago, IL and $2,553 in Park City, UT. 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 $2,553 in Park City, UT to $3,068 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 Park City, UT. 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.