Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living costs are similar in Chicago, IL and in Richland, WA: $3,185 and $3,193 a month, rent and utilities included.

153

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
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Chicago, IL Living Index
155

Cost of Living Index in Richland, WA
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Richland, WA Living Index

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Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,185

/mo nomad

Richland, WA

🇺🇸 United States

$3,193

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chicago, IL and in Richland, 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 Richland, WA actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,185 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,193 in Richland, WA, rent included.

Chicago, IL $3,185
Richland, WA $3,193

A couple spends around $4,631 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,439 in Richland, WA, rent included.

Chicago, IL $4,631
Richland, WA $4,439

A family of three spends $6,077 per month in Chicago, IL vs $5,685 in Richland, WA, rent included.

Chicago, IL $6,077
Richland, WA $5,685

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

Both Chicago, IL and Richland, WA sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 136%, Richland, WA by 137%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$21.58 $21.58

$20.26 $20.26

6.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.7 $88.7

$90.2 $90.2

-1.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.20 $13.20

$14.17 $14.17

-6.85%

Cappuccino

$5.59 $5.59

$5.72 $5.72

-2.27%

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

$2.63 $2.63

$2.50 $2.50

5.20%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.26 $2.26

$2.01 $2.01

12.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.11 $7.11

$7.79 $7.79

-8.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.23 $9.23

$7.77 $7.77

18.79%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.28 $1.28

$1.06 $1.06

20.75%

White Bread (500g)

$3.84 $3.84

$4.96 $4.96

-22.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.07 $5.07

$5.00 $5.00

1.40%

Eggs

$4.84 $4.84

$5.03 $5.03

-3.78%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.17 $14.17

$19.01 $19.01

-25.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.61 $14.61

$20.02 $20.02

-27.02%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.76 $18.76

$29.11 $29.11

-35.55%

Apples (1kg)

$5.19 $5.19

$6.35 $6.35

-18.27%

Banana (1kg)

$2.00 $2.00

$2.19 $2.19

-8.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.00 $4.00

$5.89 $5.89

-32.09%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.98 $4.98

$8.66 $8.66

-42.49%

Potato (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$2.88 $2.88

-3.12%

Onion (1kg)

$2.65 $2.65

$2.39 $2.39

10.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.13 $2.13

$3.42 $3.42

-37.72%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.09 $3.09

$2.51 $2.51

23.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$16.05 $16.05

$11.17 $11.17

43.69%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.20 $15.20

$14.93 $14.93

1.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$1.74 $1.74

50.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.46 $3.46

$5.46 $5.46

-36.63%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.47 $2.47

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.1 $75.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.21 $3.21

$5.11 $5.11

-37.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.39 $1.39

$1.84 $1.84

-24.46%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.02 $25.02

$23.72 $23.72

5.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 $1.24

$1.29 $1.29

-3.88%

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

$37.2K $37.2K

$33.4K $33.4K

11.36%

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

$25.8K $25.8K

$26.5K $26.5K

-2.70%

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

$192 $192

$324 $324

-40.60%

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

$67.8 $67.8

$42.35 $42.35

60.14%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$60.9 $60.9

$67.9 $67.9

-10.35%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.6 $53.6

$74.0 $74.0

-27.65%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.90 $27.90

$29.47 $29.47

-5.33%

Cinema Ticket

$17.80 $17.80

$14.79 $14.79

20.35%

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

$1,554 $1,554

$1,443 $1,443

7.68%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.4K $31.4K

$24.7K $24.7K

27.01%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.9 $67.9

$61.0 $61.0

11.30%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.8 $50.8

$29.99 $29.99

69.26%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 $101

0.72%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$132 $132

8.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,383 $2,383

$1,869 $1,869

27.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,712 $1,712

$1,587 $1,587

7.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,674 $4,674

$1,738 $1,738

168.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,738 $2,738

$2,164 $2,164

26.51%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,158 $4,158

$2,818 $2,818

47.57%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,691 $2,691

$2,850 $2,850

-5.58%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,894 $4,894

$4,641 $4,641

5.46%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.77

6.51

3.99%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 12, 2026

Last update for Richland, WA: October 13, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Chicago, IL

$1.7K 53.8%

Richland, WA

$1.6K 49.7% 7.3% $125

Groceries & Markets

Chicago, IL

$451 14.2%

Richland, WA

$563 17.6% 24.8% $112

Eating Out

Chicago, IL

$353 11.1%

Richland, WA

$346 10.8% 2% $7.2

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chicago, IL

$321 10.1%

Richland, WA

$434 13.6% 35.2% $113

Clothing & Footwear

Chicago, IL

$164 5.1%

Richland, WA

$146 4.6% 11% $18

Getting Around

Chicago, IL

$95 3%

Richland, WA

$14 * 0.5% 84.9% $81

Sport & Entertainment

Chicago, IL

$89 2.8%

Richland, WA

$104 3.2% 16.2% $14

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,383 in Chicago, IL versus $1,869 in Richland, 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 5% higher in Chicago, IL. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89.0 in Chicago, IL versus $90.0 in Richland, WA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $451 vs $563 – making Chicago, IL the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 Richland, WA

🕒 Local time

03:57 3:57 AM

01:57 1:57 AM

2 h behind Chicago, IL

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

2,746,388

60,560

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

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Between locations

Chicago, IL Richland, WA 2,560 km ≈ 3 h 45 min nonstop flight

From you

Chicago, IL
Richland, 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 Richland, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,777 per month in Chicago, IL and $4,790 in Richland, WA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Chicago, IL, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $1,554 per month in Chicago, IL and $1,443 in Richland, WA. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 25% more in Richland, WA, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,185 in Chicago, IL and $3,193 in Richland, WA. 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 $3,185 in Chicago, IL to $3,193 in Richland, WA. 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 Chicago, IL. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Richland, WA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.