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

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 8.1% more expensive than Pittsburgh, PA without rent, and 18.3% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 11.8% more expensive than Pittsburgh, PA without rent, and 22% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Pittsburgh, PA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$19.79 $19.79
5.20%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$60.7 $60.7
65.25%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$9.82 $9.82
21.89%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$4.95 $4.95
12.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.93 $2.93
6.14%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$2.15 $2.15
12.56%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$4.93 $4.93
39.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$7.49 $7.49
12.82%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Pittsburgh, PA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.28 $1.28
-18.75%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$4.12 $4.12
0.73%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$6.54 $6.54
-15.60%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$4.75 $4.75
-2.11%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$14.44 $14.44
-0.76%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$14.03 $14.03
6.06%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$17.05 $17.05
13.43%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$6.49 $6.49
-20.34%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.42 $1.42
20.42%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$6.47 $6.47
-31.84%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$6.71 $6.71
-32.79%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$3.17 $3.17
-20.19%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$3.84 $3.84
-28.65%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.72 $2.72
-10.66%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.32 $2.32
16.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$11.5 $11.5
32.09%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$13.9 $13.9
18.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.69 $1.69
39.05%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$3.67 $3.67
0.82%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Pittsburgh, PA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.74 $2.74
-7.66%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
$100 $100
-26.11%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$4.09 $4.09
-18.34%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.17 $1.17
21.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$21.21 $21.21
19.85%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.98 $0.98
10.20%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$29.7K $29.7K
9.03%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$26.4K $26.4K
-0.83%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Pittsburgh, PA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$285 $285
-33.88%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$52.9 $52.9
20.48%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$67.5 $67.5
-3.34%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Pittsburgh, PA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$43.3 $43.3
77.18%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
$29.65 $29.65
-56.05%
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$15.03 $15.03
-0.67%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Pittsburgh, PA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,299 $1,299
58.80%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$34.4K $34.4K
13.75%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Pittsburgh, PA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$41.62 $41.62
54.52%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$55.6 $55.6
-5.84%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$70.7 $70.7
34.74%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$80.3 $80.3
80.22%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Pittsburgh, PA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,739 $1,739
36.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,030 $1,030
53.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$2,946 $2,946
61.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$1,924 $1,924
46.33%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$2,217 $2,217
61.80%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$1,695 $1,695
46.89%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Pittsburgh, PA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$3,976 $3,976
32.68%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.54
0.92%

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 Pittsburgh, PA: October 28, 2025

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