Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Silver Spring, MD Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Silver Spring, MD

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 3.1% more expensive than Silver Spring, MD without rent, and 10.9% more expensive with rent.
πŸ™‚ Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 6.2% cheaper than Silver Spring, MD without rent, and 3.2% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Silver Spring, MD
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$20.26 $20.26
2.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$89.9 $89.9
11.64%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$8.86 $8.86
35.10%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$5.41 $5.41
2.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.94 $2.94
5.78%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$2.55 $2.55
-5.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$6.63 $6.63
3.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$8.27 $8.27
2.18%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Silver Spring, MD
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$0.97 $0.97
7.22%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$5.02 $5.02
-17.33%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$5.96 $5.96
-7.38%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$5.82 $5.82
-20.10%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$18.28 $18.28
-21.61%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$15.43 $15.43
-3.56%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$22.52 $22.52
-14.12%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$7.47 $7.47
-30.79%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.72 $1.72
-0.58%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$8.05 $8.05
-45.22%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$6.72 $6.72
-32.89%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$3.38 $3.38
-25.15%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$2.74 $2.74
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.27 $2.27
7.05%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.47 $2.47
9.31%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$10.81 $10.81
40.52%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$15.23 $15.23
7.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.68 $1.68
39.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$4.93 $4.93
-24.95%
🚌 Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Silver Spring, MD
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$5.1 $5.1
-50.39%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
$173 $173
-57.07%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$4.55 $4.55
-26.59%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.35 $1.35
5.19%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$29.76 $29.76
-14.58%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.87 $0.87
24.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$26K $26K
24.63%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$24.7K $24.7K
6.26%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Silver Spring, MD
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$210 $210
-10.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$52.2 $52.2
21.96%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$66.5 $66.5
-1.93%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Silver Spring, MD
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$33.59 $33.59
128.40%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
$22.18 $22.18
-41.25%
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$16.74 $16.74
-10.81%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Silver Spring, MD
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$2,196 $2,196
-6.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$59.7K $59.7K
-34.41%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Silver Spring, MD
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$47.61 $47.61
35.08%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$36.02 $36.02
45.45%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$96.1 $96.1
-0.96%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$122 $122
18.92%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Silver Spring, MD
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,936 $1,936
22.84%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,162 $1,162
36.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$3,761 $3,761
26.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$2,502 $2,502
12.53%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$5,384 $5,384
-33.35%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$4,377 $4,377
-43.11%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Silver Spring, MD
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$4,790 $4,790
10.13%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.61
-0.15%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Silver Spring, MD: October 28, 2025

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