Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Schenectady, NY Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Schenectady, NY

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 7.2% more expensive than Schenectady, NY without rent, and 26.1% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 11.9% more expensive than Schenectady, NY without rent, and 36.6% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.62 $20.62

$19.25 $19.25

7.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$101 $101

$65.3 $65.3

54.74%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.78 $11.78

$11.95 $11.95

-1.42%

Cappuccino

$5.78 $5.78

$4.08 $4.08

41.67%

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

$2.98 $2.98

$2.48 $2.48

20.16%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.45 $2.45

$1.97 $1.97

24.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.8 $6.8

$4.95 $4.95

37.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.48 $8.48

$5.88 $5.88

44.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$1.02 $1.02

6.86%

White Bread (500g)

$4.1 $4.1

$3.96 $3.96

3.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.36 $5.36

$5.75 $5.75

-6.78%

Eggs

$4.55 $4.55

$5.13 $5.13

-11.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.35 $14.35

$16.42 $16.42

-12.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.2 $15.2

$13.67 $13.67

11.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.97 $18.97

$17.43 $17.43

8.84%

Apples (1kg)

$5.44 $5.44

$4.78 $4.78

13.81%

Banana (1kg)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.45 $1.45

18.62%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.39 $4.39

$4.65 $4.65

-5.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.42 $4.42

$4.83 $4.83

-8.49%

Potato (1kg)

$2.57 $2.57

$3.11 $3.11

-17.36%

Onion (1kg)

$2.69 $2.69

$2.54 $2.54

5.91%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.41 $2.41

$1.85 $1.85

30.27%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.72 $2.72

$1.73 $1.73

57.23%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.82 $14.82

$13.25 $13.25

11.85%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.71 $16.71

$12.81 $12.81

30.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.45 $2.45

$1.74 $1.74

40.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.58 $3.58

$3.31 $3.31

8.16%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.54 $2.54

$1.54 $1.54

64.94%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$76.2 $76.2

$55.4 $55.4

37.52%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.31 $3.31

$2.95 $2.95

12.20%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.39 $1.39

$1.36 $1.36

2.21%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.15 $25.15

$27.78 $27.78

-9.47%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$0.87 $0.87

20.69%

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

$31.5K $31.5K

$30.2K $30.2K

4.23%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$26K $26K

0.76%

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

$182 $182

$208 $208

-12.44%

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

$62.6 $62.6

$58.5 $58.5

6.96%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.5 $66.5

$78.4 $78.4

-15.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$77.7 $77.7

$70.6 $70.6

10.07%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.18 $13.18

Cinema Ticket

$14.98 $14.98

$14.88 $14.88

0.67%

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

$2,022 $2,022

$1,419 $1,419

42.49%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39K $39K

$27.9K $27.9K

39.94%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.3 $63.3

$48.14 $48.14

31.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.3 $52.3

$45.66 $45.66

14.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.9 $95.9

$85.9 $85.9

11.70%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$148 $148

$163 $163

-8.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,302 $2,302

$1,325 $1,325

73.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,622 $1,622

$1,117 $1,117

45.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,642 $4,642

$2,243 $2,243

106.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$1,473 $1,473

91.11%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,708 $3,708

$2,404 $2,404

54.26%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,559 $2,559

$2,388 $2,388

7.13%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,228 $5,228

$3,809 $3,809

37.24%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.45

2.33%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: November 5, 2025

Last update for Schenectady, NY: November 4, 2025

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