Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Rockville, MD Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Rockville, MD

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 3.2% more expensive than Rockville, MD without rent, and 0.4% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 17.6% more expensive than Rockville, MD without rent, and 4.2% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Rockville, MD
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$21.22 $21.22
-1.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$80.3 $80.3
24.94%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$10.48 $10.48
14.22%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$5.72 $5.72
-2.80%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.47 $2.47
25.91%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$2.1 $2.1
15.24%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$6.46 $6.46
6.19%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$7.56 $7.56
11.77%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Rockville, MD
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.2 $1.2
-13.33%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$3.83 $3.83
8.36%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$4.46 $4.46
23.77%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$4.23 $4.23
9.93%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$13.52 $13.52
5.99%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$14.87 $14.87
0.07%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$16.02 $16.02
20.72%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$6.88 $6.88
-24.85%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.63 $1.63
4.91%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$6.11 $6.11
-27.82%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$5.35 $5.35
-15.70%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.88 $2.88
-12.15%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$2.8 $2.8
-2.14%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$1.77 $1.77
37.29%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.69 $2.69
0.37%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$11.98 $11.98
26.79%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$14.78 $14.78
11.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$2.34 $2.34
0.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$3.75 $3.75
-1.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Rockville, MD
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.57 $2.57
-1.56%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
$138 $138
-46.38%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$2.88 $2.88
15.97%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.39 $1.39
2.16%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$23.54 $23.54
7.99%
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
$31K $31K
4.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$26K $26K
0.70%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Rockville, MD
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$170 $170
10.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$46.16 $46.16
38.00%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$71.1 $71.1
-8.35%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Rockville, MD
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$42.46 $42.46
80.69%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
$12.69 $12.69
2.68%
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$14.9 $14.9
0.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Rockville, MD
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,750 $1,750
17.88%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$33.6K $33.6K
16.71%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Rockville, MD
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$52.1 $52.1
23.39%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$54.6 $54.6
-4.07%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$93.6 $93.6
1.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$117 $117
23.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Rockville, MD
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$2,029 $2,029
17.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,596 $1,596
-0.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$3,840 $3,840
24.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$3,165 $3,165
-11.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$4,339 $4,339
-17.31%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,484 $2,484
0.27%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Rockville, MD
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$6,328 $6,328
-16.64%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.55
0.76%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Rockville, MD: October 28, 2025

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