Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Renton, WA

For one person, living costs are similar in Chicago, IL and in Renton, WA: $3,037 and $3,027 a month, rent and utilities included.

147

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
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Chicago, IL Living Index
145

Cost of Living Index in Renton, WA
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Renton, WA Living Index

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Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,037

/mo nomad

Renton, WA

🇺🇸 United States

$3,027

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chicago, IL and in Renton, WA

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chicago, IL and in Renton, WA actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,037 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,027 in Renton, WA, rent included.

Chicago, IL $3,037
Renton, WA $3,027

A couple spends around $4,518 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,071 in Renton, WA, rent included.

Chicago, IL $4,518
Renton, WA $4,071

A family of three spends $5,999 per month in Chicago, IL vs $5,116 in Renton, WA, rent included.

Chicago, IL $5,999
Renton, WA $5,116

Chicago, IL and Renton, WA have comparable living costs – the differences are in the details.

Both Chicago, IL and Renton, WA sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 123%, Renton, WA by 122%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.71 $20.71

$19.98 $19.98

3.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$89.2 $89.2

$95.4 $95.4

-6.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.19 $13.19

$12.15 $12.15

8.56%

Cappuccino

$5.66 $5.66

$4.96 $4.96

14.11%

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

$2.64 $2.64

$2.44 $2.44

8.20%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 $2.28

$2.14 $2.14

6.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.87 $6.87

$5.02 $5.02

36.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.84 $8.84

$7.18 $7.18

23.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.25 $1.25

$1.13 $1.13

10.62%

White Bread (500g)

$3.72 $3.72

$4.12 $4.12

-9.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$3.77 $3.77

42.97%

Eggs

$4.74 $4.74

$4.99 $4.99

-5.01%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.84 $13.84

$12.98 $12.98

6.63%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.40 $14.40

$7.01 $7.01

105.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.38 $18.38

$15.68 $15.68

17.22%

Apples (1kg)

$5.22 $5.22

$3.37 $3.37

54.90%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.68 $1.68

17.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.06 $4.06

$2.24 $2.24

81.25%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.97 $4.97

$3.50 $3.50

42.00%

Potato (1kg)

$2.67 $2.67

$2.34 $2.34

14.10%

Onion (1kg)

$2.66 $2.66

$2.41 $2.41

10.37%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.24 $2.24

$1.79 $1.79

25.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.13 $3.13

$2.13 $2.13

46.95%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.82 $13.82

$12.27 $12.27

12.63%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.88 $14.88

$10.18 $10.18

46.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.54 $2.54

$1.78 $1.78

42.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.51 $3.51

$2.87 $2.87

22.30%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.43 $2.43

$3.48 $3.48

-30.17%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$73.5 $73.5

$74.2 $74.2

-0.96%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.18 $3.18

$3.56 $3.56

-10.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.39 $1.39

$0.67 $0.67

107.46%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.03 $25.03

$15.23 $15.23

64.35%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 $1.20

$1.30 $1.30

-7.69%

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

$35.0K $35.0K

$25.2K $25.2K

39.12%

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

$26.7K $26.7K

$24.6K $24.6K

8.31%

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

$194 $194

$198 $198

-1.80%

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

$69.5 $69.5

$61.9 $61.9

12.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.6 $61.6

$60.7 $60.7

1.62%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.90 $47.90

$37.51 $37.51

27.70%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.34 $27.34

$39.97 $39.97

-31.60%

Cinema Ticket

$17.81 $17.81

$14.94 $14.94

19.21%

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

$1,794 $1,794

$1,618 $1,618

10.84%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.9K $31.9K

$16.4K $16.4K

94.65%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.0 $67.0

$52.4 $52.4

27.93%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.1 $52.1

$29.85 $29.85

74.67%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 $102

$62.4 $62.4

62.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$144 $144

$78.6 $78.6

82.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,526 $2,526

$1,740 $1,740

45.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,578 $1,578

$1,789 $1,789

-11.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,738 $4,738

$3,030 $3,030

56.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,693 $2,693

$2,240 $2,240

20.23%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,190 $4,190

$4,769 $4,769

-12.14%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,768 $2,768

$3,821 $3,821

-27.55%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,931 $4,931

$5,238 $5,238

-5.87%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.81

6.59

3.34%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 25, 2026

Last update for Renton, WA: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52%

Renton, WA

$1.8K 59.1% 13.3% $211

Groceries & Markets

Chicago, IL

$447 14.7%

Renton, WA

$342 11.3% 23.6% $106

Eating Out

Chicago, IL

$345 11.4%

Renton, WA

$314 10.4% 9.1% $31

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chicago, IL

$326 10.7%

Renton, WA

$321 10.6% 1.5% $5

Clothing & Footwear

Chicago, IL

$164 5.4%

Renton, WA

$100 3.3% 38.7% $64

Getting Around

Chicago, IL

$93 3.1%

Renton, WA

$95 3.1% 1.8% $1.7

Sport & Entertainment

Chicago, IL

$84 2.8%

Renton, WA

$67 2.2% 19.3% $16

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,526 in Chicago, IL versus $1,740 in Renton, WA. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 6% higher in Renton, WA. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89 in Chicago, IL versus $95 in Renton, WA. Groceries tell a different story – $447 in Chicago, IL vs $342 in Renton, WA – so Renton, WA wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 Renton, WA

🕒 Local time

04:42 4:42 AM

02:42 2:42 AM

2 h behind Chicago, IL

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

2,746,388

106,785

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.896 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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Between locations

Chicago, IL Renton, WA 2,780 km ≈ 4 h nonstop flight

From you

Chicago, IL
Renton, WA

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Renton, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,555 per month in Chicago, IL and $4,541 in Renton, WA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Renton, WA, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,740 there versus $2,526 in Chicago, IL.

Kindergarten costs $1,794 per month in Chicago, IL and $1,618 in Renton, WA. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 31% more in Chicago, IL, though the gap depends on what you buy.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,037 in Chicago, IL and $3,027 in Renton, WA. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Renton, WA – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.