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

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 4.4% more expensive than Reading, PA without rent, and 13.9% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 11.6% more expensive than Reading, PA without rent, and 36.4% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$18.15 $18.15

14.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$66.2 $66.2

51.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$11.68 $11.68

2.48%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$4.59 $4.59

21.13%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.45 $2.45

26.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.5 $1.5

61.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$6.69 $6.69

2.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$8.05 $8.05

4.97%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.28 $1.28

-18.75%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$3.31 $3.31

25.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$3.87 $3.87

42.64%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$4.97 $4.97

-6.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$13.33 $13.33

7.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$11.61 $11.61

28.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$17.35 $17.35

11.47%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$4.37 $4.37

18.31%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.7 $1.7

0.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$4.05 $4.05

8.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$3.3 $3.3

36.67%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.57 $2.57

-1.56%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.67 $2.67

2.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.28 $2.28

6.58%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$1.79 $1.79

50.84%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$9.72 $9.72

56.28%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$14.23 $14.23

15.39%

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

$3.08 $3.08

20.13%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.98 $1.98

27.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

$44.17 $44.17

67.83%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$2.94 $2.94

13.61%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$2.18 $2.18

-34.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$24.18 $24.18

5.13%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.9 $0.9

20.00%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$20.1K $20.1K

60.99%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$19.9K $19.9K

31.78%

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

$188 $188

$127 $127

48.35%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$44.71 $44.71

42.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$53.5 $53.5

21.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$42.83 $42.83

79.13%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$17.29 $17.29

-13.65%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,078 $1,078

91.26%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$24K $24K

62.98%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$73.6 $73.6

-12.57%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$62.1 $62.1

-15.61%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$76.5 $76.5

24.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$135 $135

7.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$1,666 $1,666

42.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,409 $1,409

12.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$2,136 $2,136

122.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$1,941 $1,941

45.02%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$1,797 $1,797

99.67%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$1,806 $1,806

37.92%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$2,851 $2,851

85.00%

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 Reading, PA: October 29, 2025

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