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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,184 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,505 in Silver Spring, MD, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,725 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,174 in Silver Spring, MD, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,266 per month in Chicago, IL vs $5,842 in Silver Spring, MD, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 27% more than Silver Spring, MD, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Chicago, IL and Silver Spring, MD sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 131%, Silver Spring, MD by 82%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.26 $20.26

$13.26 $13.26

52.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.8 $88.8

$91.5 $91.5

-2.99%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.16 $13.16

$12.09 $12.09

8.85%

Cappuccino

$5.77 $5.77

$6.08 $6.08

-5.10%

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

$2.63 $2.63

$2.67 $2.67

-1.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 $2.34

$2.69 $2.69

-13.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.06 $7.06

$6.69 $6.69

5.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.18 $9.18

$8.56 $8.56

7.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.30 $1.30

$1.09 $1.09

19.27%

White Bread (500g)

$4.05 $4.05

$4.47 $4.47

-9.40%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.69 $5.69

$6.30 $6.30

-9.68%

Eggs

$4.85 $4.85

$5.52 $5.52

-12.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.08 $15.08

$16.60 $16.60

-9.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.87 $14.87

$16.33 $16.33

-8.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.28 $19.28

$19.17 $19.17

0.57%

Apples (1kg)

$5.68 $5.68

$4.91 $4.91

15.68%

Banana (1kg)

$1.93 $1.93

$1.68 $1.68

14.88%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.10 $4.10

$6.42 $6.42

-36.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.11 $5.11

$5.25 $5.25

-2.67%

Potato (1kg)

$2.92 $2.92

$3.10 $3.10

-5.81%

Onion (1kg)

$2.77 $2.77

$2.09 $2.09

32.54%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.30 $2.30

$2.18 $2.18

5.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.04 $3.04

$2.80 $2.80

8.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.93 $15.93

$9.91 $9.91

60.75%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.06 $15.06

$15.18 $15.18

-0.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.71 $1.71

47.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.48 $3.48

$4.73 $4.73

-26.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$5.15 $5.15

-50.87%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.8 $74.8

$179 $179

-58.27%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.28 $3.28

$3.05 $3.05

7.54%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.36 $1.36

$1.47 $1.47

-7.48%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.55 $22.55

$22.05 $22.05

2.27%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 $1.22

$1.01 $1.01

20.79%

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

$36.1K $36.1K

$36.7K $36.7K

-1.71%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$25.4K $25.4K

2.44%

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

$188 $188

$147 $147

28.17%

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

$69.0 $69.0

$49.20 $49.20

40.24%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.6 $63.6

$60.6 $60.6

4.95%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.4 $63.4

$33.30 $33.30

90.51%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.11 $27.11

$22.16 $22.16

22.34%

Cinema Ticket

$17.90 $17.90

$16.67 $16.67

7.38%

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

$1,526 $1,526

$2,005 $2,005

-23.89%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.9K $31.9K

$31.7K $31.7K

0.64%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.1 $62.1

$48.00 $48.00

29.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$56.4 $56.4

$36.11 $36.11

56.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 $101

$111 $111

-9.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$156 $156

$122 $122

28.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,342 $2,342

$1,925 $1,925

21.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,698 $1,698

$1,063 $1,063

59.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,576 $4,576

$4,107 $4,107

11.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,806 $2,806

$2,526 $2,526

11.09%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,130 $4,130

$5,388 $5,388

-23.35%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,740 $2,740

$4,366 $4,366

-37.26%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,891 $4,891

$4,923 $4,923

-0.66%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.38

6.3

1.27%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: September 6, 2026

Last update for Silver Spring, MD: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,342 in Chicago, IL versus $1,925 in Silver Spring, MD. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 1% higher in Silver Spring, MD, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89.0 in Chicago, IL versus $92.0 in Silver Spring, MD. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $465 vs $483 – making Chicago, IL the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Chicago, IL vs Silver Spring, MD: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,184 in Chicago, IL, $2,505 in Silver Spring, MD – roughly 27% apart. Chicago, IL costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,776 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,758 in Silver Spring, MD. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Silver Spring, MD, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 4% cheaper in Chicago, IL – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89.0 in Chicago, IL and $92.0 in Silver Spring, MD. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,184 in Chicago, IL and $2,505 in Silver Spring, MD. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,505 in Silver Spring, MD to $3,184 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Silver Spring, MD. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chicago, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.