Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Port Jefferson Station, NY Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Port Jefferson Station, NY

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,051 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,559 in Port Jefferson Station, NY, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,638 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,888 in Port Jefferson Station, NY, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,224 per month in Chicago, IL vs $5,217 in Port Jefferson Station, NY, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 19% more than Port Jefferson Station, NY, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Chicago, IL and Port Jefferson Station, NY sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 128%, Port Jefferson Station, NY by 91%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.67 $20.67

$19.81 $19.81

4.34%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$96.6 $96.6

3.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.86 $11.86

$7.95 $7.95

49.18%

Cappuccino

$5.54 $5.54

$5.07 $5.07

9.27%

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

$3.06 $3.06

$2.34 $2.34

30.77%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 $2.48

$1.89 $1.89

31.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.92 $6.92

$7.07 $7.07

-2.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.13 $8.13

$8.91 $8.91

-8.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.32 $1.32

-21.21%

White Bread (500g)

$3.91 $3.91

$3.74 $3.74

4.55%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.42 $5.42

$5.25 $5.25

3.24%

Eggs

$4.48 $4.48

$4.70 $4.70

-4.68%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.52 $14.52

$21.30 $21.30

-31.83%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.21 $15.21

$11.97 $11.97

27.07%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.25 $19.25

$17.03 $17.03

13.04%

Apples (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$4.86 $4.86

10.91%

Banana (1kg)

$1.69 $1.69

$1.72 $1.72

-1.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.32 $4.32

$4.02 $4.02

7.46%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$4.06 $4.06

11.08%

Potato (1kg)

$2.56 $2.56

$2.80 $2.80

-8.57%

Onion (1kg)

$2.70 $2.70

$3.97 $3.97

-31.99%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.41 $2.41

$2.40 $2.40

0.42%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$2.67 $2.67

-1.87%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.02 $15.02

$12.07 $12.07

24.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.71 $14.71

$15.23 $15.23

-3.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.48 $2.48

$1.76 $1.76

40.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.69 $3.69

$6.08 $6.08

-39.31%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.55 $2.55

$1.98 $1.98

28.79%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.5 $75.5

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.29 $3.29

$3.03 $3.03

8.58%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.43 $1.43

$2.07 $2.07

-30.92%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.72 $24.72

$24.19 $24.19

2.19%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.90 $0.90

21.11%

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

$31.8K $31.8K

$34.7K $34.7K

-8.61%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$25.7K $25.7K

3.08%

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

$183 $183

$126 $126

45.14%

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

$61.8 $61.8

$44.38 $44.38

39.32%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.0 $65.0

$63.9 $63.9

1.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.1 $76.1

$42.71 $42.71

78.13%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.04 $13.04

Cinema Ticket

$14.75 $14.75

$16.97 $16.97

-13.08%

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

$2,056 $2,056

$2,232 $2,232

-7.89%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$38.5K $38.5K

$23.5K $23.5K

63.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.9 $63.9

$76.0 $76.0

-15.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.6 $51.6

$62.4 $62.4

-17.26%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.3 $97.3

$74.2 $74.2

31.01%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$147 $147

$134 $134

10.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,349 $2,349

$1,574 $1,574

49.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,581 $1,581

$1,368 $1,368

15.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,708 $4,708

$2,592 $2,592

81.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,716 $2,716

$2,234 $2,234

21.54%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,976 $3,976

$2,700 $2,700

47.25%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,632 $2,632

$2,086 $2,086

26.19%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,723 $4,723

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.62

-0.30%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: April 20, 2026

Last update for Port Jefferson Station, NY: April 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,349 in Chicago, IL versus $1,574 in Port Jefferson Station, NY. 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 $100 in Chicago, IL versus $97 in Port Jefferson Station, NY. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $447 vs $446 – making Port Jefferson Station, NY 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 Port Jefferson Station, NY: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,051 in Chicago, IL, $2,559 in Port Jefferson Station, NY – roughly 19% apart. Chicago, IL costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,577 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,839 in Port Jefferson Station, NY. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Port Jefferson Station, NY, 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 $100 in Chicago, IL and $97.0 in Port Jefferson Station, NY. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 0% 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.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,051 in Chicago, IL and $2,559 in Port Jefferson Station, NY. 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 $2,559 in Port Jefferson Station, NY to $3,051 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 Port Jefferson Station, NY. 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.