Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Queens, NY Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Queens, NY

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 3.7% more expensive than Queens, NY without rent, and 7% cheaper with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 16.7% more expensive than Queens, NY without rent, and 4.1% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$16.92 $16.92

23.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$99.6 $99.6

0.73%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$11.89 $11.89

0.67%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$5.31 $5.31

4.71%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.4 $2.4

29.58%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.57 $1.57

54.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$7.06 $7.06

-2.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$8.2 $8.2

3.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.26 $1.26

-17.46%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$3.72 $3.72

11.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$5.14 $5.14

7.39%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$6.49 $6.49

-28.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$21.22 $21.22

-32.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$10.25 $10.25

45.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$19.54 $19.54

-1.02%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$5.7 $5.7

-9.30%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$2.66 $2.66

-35.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$4.18 $4.18

5.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$4.14 $4.14

8.94%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.85 $2.85

-11.23%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.63 $2.63

4.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.4 $2.4

1.25%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$17.33 $17.33

-12.35%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$14.8 $14.8

10.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.78 $1.78

32.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$4.31 $4.31

-14.15%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.97 $2.97

-14.81%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

$132 $132

-43.71%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$3.04 $3.04

9.87%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$2.01 $2.01

-29.35%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$42.17 $42.17

-39.72%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.91 $0.91

18.68%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$23.5K $23.5K

38.01%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$25.7K $25.7K

1.86%

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

$188 $188

$124 $124

51.71%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$45.87 $45.87

38.87%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$58.5 $58.5

11.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$44.89 $44.89

70.91%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

$48.18 $48.18

-72.96%

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$16.99 $16.99

-12.12%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,775 $1,775

16.20%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$16K $16K

144.11%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$49.93 $49.93

28.80%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$62.2 $62.2

-15.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$85 $85

12.02%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$131 $131

10.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$2,284 $2,284

4.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,917 $1,917

-17.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$3,734 $3,734

27.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$3,169 $3,169

-11.17%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$8,510 $8,510

-57.84%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$6,197 $6,197

-59.81%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$3,494 $3,494

50.96%

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: October 29, 2025

Last update for Queens, NY: October 29, 2025

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