Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Saratoga Springs, NY Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Saratoga Springs, NY

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 20.5% more expensive than Saratoga Springs, NY without rent, and 3.6% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 19.9% more expensive than Saratoga Springs, NY without rent, and 20% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Saratoga Springs, NY
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$19.7 $19.7
5.69%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$64.6 $64.6
55.45%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$7.95 $7.95
50.57%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$4.15 $4.15
33.98%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.18 $2.18
42.66%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$1.77 $1.77
36.72%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$5.11 $5.11
34.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$7.11 $7.11
18.85%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Saratoga Springs, NY
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.11 $1.11
-6.31%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$3.34 $3.34
24.25%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$8.08 $8.08
-31.68%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$3.63 $3.63
28.10%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$19.39 $19.39
-26.10%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$23.97 $23.97
-37.92%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$19.15 $19.15
0.99%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$3.89 $3.89
32.90%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.46 $1.46
17.12%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$3.89 $3.89
13.37%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$7.19 $7.19
-37.27%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$3.29 $3.29
-23.10%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$2.94 $2.94
-6.80%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$1.87 $1.87
29.95%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$1.66 $1.66
62.65%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$12.86 $12.86
18.12%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$12.21 $12.21
34.48%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.7 $1.7
38.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$5.59 $5.59
-33.81%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Saratoga Springs, NY
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.43 $2.43
4.12%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$1.96 $1.96
70.41%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.36 $1.36
4.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$29.27 $29.27
-13.15%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.86 $0.86
25.58%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$33.7K $33.7K
-3.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$24.6K $24.6K
6.78%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Saratoga Springs, NY
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$197 $197
-4.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$51.5 $51.5
23.71%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$65.4 $65.4
-0.29%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Saratoga Springs, NY
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$60.5 $60.5
26.89%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
$19.72 $19.72
-33.92%
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$15.3 $15.3
-2.42%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Saratoga Springs, NY
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,414 $1,414
45.88%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$30.4K $30.4K
28.73%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Saratoga Springs, NY
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$46.69 $46.69
37.74%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$33.97 $33.97
54.22%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$84.5 $84.5
12.71%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$113 $113
28.27%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Saratoga Springs, NY
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$2,516 $2,516
-5.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,604 $1,604
-1.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$3,059 $3,059
55.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$2,237 $2,237
25.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$2,846 $2,846
26.07%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,127 $2,127
17.08%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Saratoga Springs, NY
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$4,549 $4,549
15.95%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.36
3.77%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Saratoga Springs, NY: October 28, 2025

Join the CityCost newsletter โ€“ low traffic, no spam, and easy to unsubscribe. Your email stays private.