Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Philadelphia, PA Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Philadelphia, PA

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 0 than Philadelphia, PA without rent, and 4.7% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 0.7% more expensive than Philadelphia, PA without rent, and 10.8% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$19.65 $19.65

5.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$88.4 $88.4

13.55%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$12.06 $12.06

-0.75%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$4.79 $4.79

16.08%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.61 $2.61

19.16%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.93 $1.93

25.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$6.03 $6.03

13.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$6.95 $6.95

21.58%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.43 $1.43

-27.27%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$4.25 $4.25

-2.35%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$10.17 $10.17

-45.72%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$4.45 $4.45

4.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$15.04 $15.04

-4.72%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$13.92 $13.92

6.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$21.54 $21.54

-10.21%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$6.08 $6.08

-14.97%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$2.24 $2.24

-23.66%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$5.12 $5.12

-13.87%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$5.21 $5.21

-13.44%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$3.31 $3.31

-23.56%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.87 $2.87

-4.53%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$3.1 $3.1

-21.61%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$2.52 $2.52

7.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$12.93 $12.93

17.48%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$14.72 $14.72

11.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.95 $1.95

20.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$4.29 $4.29

-13.75%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.43 $2.43

4.12%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

$96.3 $96.3

-22.98%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$3.07 $3.07

8.79%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.59 $1.59

-10.69%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$22.42 $22.42

13.38%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.87 $0.87

24.14%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$27.5K $27.5K

17.97%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$25.6K $25.6K

2.50%

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

$188 $188

$270 $270

-30.25%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$62.8 $62.8

1.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$76 $76

-14.18%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$49.31 $49.31

55.59%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

$31.85 $31.85

-59.09%

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$15.25 $15.25

-2.10%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$2,109 $2,109

-2.22%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$43.4K $43.4K

-9.72%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$50.5 $50.5

27.27%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$42.75 $42.75

22.55%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$94.5 $94.5

0.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$142 $142

1.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$1,751 $1,751

35.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,341 $1,341

18.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$3,119 $3,119

52.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$2,295 $2,295

22.68%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$3,289 $3,289

9.09%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$2,397 $2,397

3.91%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$4,417 $4,417

19.42%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.68

-1.20%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Philadelphia, PA: October 28, 2025

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