Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Pawtucket, RI Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Pawtucket, RI

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,084 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,743 in Pawtucket, RI, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,637 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,183 in Pawtucket, RI, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,191 per month in Chicago, IL vs $5,622 in Pawtucket, RI, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 12% more than Pawtucket, RI, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Chicago, IL and Pawtucket, RI sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 131%, Pawtucket, RI by 105%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.81 $20.81

$24.73 $24.73

-15.85%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.6 $98.6

$101 $101

-2.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.90 $11.90

$11.45 $11.45

3.93%

Cappuccino

$5.84 $5.84

$5.58 $5.58

4.66%

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

$3.07 $3.07

$3.03 $3.03

1.32%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$2.07 $2.07

13.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.87 $6.87

$8.16 $8.16

-15.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.07 $8.07

$9.25 $9.25

-12.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$1.31 $1.31

-19.85%

White Bread (500g)

$3.98 $3.98

$4.28 $4.28

-7.01%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.60 $5.60

$3.05 $3.05

83.61%

Eggs

$4.55 $4.55

$4.87 $4.87

-6.57%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.20 $14.20

$10.95 $10.95

29.68%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.90 $14.90

$12.26 $12.26

21.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.08 $19.08

$20.86 $20.86

-8.53%

Apples (1kg)

$5.31 $5.31

$5.76 $5.76

-7.81%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$2.08 $2.08

-17.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.24 $4.24

$5.96 $5.96

-28.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.37 $4.37

$6.73 $6.73

-35.07%

Potato (1kg)

$2.56 $2.56

$1.57 $1.57

63.06%

Onion (1kg)

$2.80 $2.80

$2.90 $2.90

-3.45%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.76 $2.76

-10.51%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.70 $2.70

$2.63 $2.63

2.66%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.95 $14.95

$12.22 $12.22

22.34%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.73 $14.73

$15.17 $15.17

-2.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.37 $2.37

$2.96 $2.96

-19.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.57 $3.57

$3.89 $3.89

-8.23%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.44 $2.44

$1.99 $1.99

22.61%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.2 $75.2

$68.9 $68.9

9.11%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.35 $3.35

$2.62 $2.62

27.86%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.37 $1.37

$1.71 $1.71

-19.88%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.29 $25.29

$27.89 $27.89

-9.32%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.91 $0.91

19.78%

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

$32.3K $32.3K

$30.0K $30.0K

7.70%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$25.4K $25.4K

4.05%

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

$188 $188

$287 $287

-34.53%

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

$63.3 $63.3

$69.7 $69.7

-9.24%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.2 $66.2

$76.8 $76.8

-13.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.6 $75.6

$25.49 $25.49

196.43%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.20 $13.20

Cinema Ticket

$14.80 $14.80

$14.52 $14.52

1.93%

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

$2,097 $2,097

$1,471 $1,471

42.48%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$38.5K $38.5K

$27.3K $27.3K

40.99%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.9 $64.9

$53.0 $53.0

22.33%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.6 $51.6

$40.18 $40.18

28.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.3 $96.3

$90.6 $90.6

6.25%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$146 $146

$150 $150

-2.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,332 $2,332

$1,550 $1,550

50.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,579 $1,579

$1,251 $1,251

26.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,775 $4,775

$2,299 $2,299

107.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,725 $2,725

$2,159 $2,159

26.24%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,023 $4,023

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,684 $2,684

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,981 $4,981

$3,929 $3,929

26.79%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.43

2.64%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: July 20, 2026

Last update for Pawtucket, RI: July 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,332 in Chicago, IL versus $1,550 in Pawtucket, RI. 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 27% higher in Chicago, IL, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $99.0 in Chicago, IL versus $101 in Pawtucket, RI. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $445 vs $449 – making Chicago, IL 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 Pawtucket, RI: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,084 in Chicago, IL, $2,743 in Pawtucket, RI – roughly 12% apart. Chicago, IL costs more across the board, with Sport & Entertainment showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,626 per month in Chicago, IL and $4,115 in Pawtucket, RI. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Interestingly, groceries are about 1% cheaper in Chicago, IL – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $99.0 in Chicago, IL and $101 in Pawtucket, RI. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,084 in Chicago, IL and $2,743 in Pawtucket, RI. 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 $2,743 in Pawtucket, RI to $3,084 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Pawtucket, RI. 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.