Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Salem, OR Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Salem, OR

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 19.4% more expensive than Salem, OR without rent, and 11.5% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 13.5% more expensive than Salem, OR without rent, and 23.6% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Salem, OR
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$17.27 $17.27
20.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$91.6 $91.6
9.53%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$9.89 $9.89
21.03%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$4.65 $4.65
19.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.52 $2.52
23.41%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$1.98 $1.98
22.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$4.66 $4.66
47.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$6.79 $6.79
24.45%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Salem, OR
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.1 $1.1
-5.45%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$4 $4
3.75%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$3.9 $3.9
41.54%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$4.8 $4.8
-3.12%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$17.55 $17.55
-18.35%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$13.18 $13.18
12.90%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$16.82 $16.82
14.98%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$4.26 $4.26
21.36%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.48 $1.48
15.54%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$3.64 $3.64
21.15%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$3.76 $3.76
19.95%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.03 $2.03
24.63%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$2.15 $2.15
27.44%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$1.92 $1.92
26.56%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$1.69 $1.69
59.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$10.61 $10.61
43.17%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$12.87 $12.87
27.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.61 $1.61
45.96%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$2.89 $2.89
28.03%
🚌 Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Salem, OR
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$1.67 $1.67
51.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
$39.91 $39.91
85.74%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$3.43 $3.43
-2.62%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.2 $1.2
18.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$39.4 $39.4
-35.48%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$1 $1
8.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$28.1K $28.1K
15.55%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$24.9K $24.9K
5.23%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Salem, OR
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$271 $271
-30.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$54.2 $54.2
17.59%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$77.2 $77.2
-15.57%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Salem, OR
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$53.8 $53.8
42.68%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$13.02 $13.02
14.67%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Salem, OR
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,308 $1,308
57.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$23.3K $23.3K
68.49%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Salem, OR
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$46.74 $46.74
37.59%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$52.2 $52.2
0.34%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$86 $86
10.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$81.5 $81.5
77.43%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Salem, OR
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,512 $1,512
57.29%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,371 $1,371
15.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$2,867 $2,867
66.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$2,083 $2,083
35.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$3,083 $3,083
16.39%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$3,064 $3,064
-18.74%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Salem, OR
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$3,762 $3,762
40.20%
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 Salem, OR: October 29, 2025

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