Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Sitka, AK

For one person, living costs are similar in Chicago, IL and in Sitka, AK: $3,037 and $3,144 a month, rent and utilities included.

147

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
Learn more

Chicago, IL Living Index

Jump to prices

Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,037

/mo nomad

Sitka, AK

🇺🇸 United States

$3,144

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chicago, IL and in Sitka, AK

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chicago, IL and in Sitka, AK actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,037 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,144 in Sitka, AK, rent included.

Chicago, IL $3,037
Sitka, AK $3,144

A couple spends around $4,518 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,477 in Sitka, AK, rent included.

Chicago, IL $4,518
Sitka, AK $4,477

A family of three spends $5,999 per month in Chicago, IL vs $5,811 in Sitka, AK, rent included.

Chicago, IL $5,999
Sitka, AK $5,811

Chicago, IL is about 3% cheaper than Sitka, AK, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Chicago, IL and Sitka, AK sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 123%, Sitka, AK by 131%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.71 $20.71

$40.06 $40.06

-48.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$89.2 $89.2

$80.4 $80.4

10.94%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.19 $13.19

$9.60 $9.60

37.40%

Cappuccino

$5.66 $5.66

$7.16 $7.16

-20.95%

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

$2.64 $2.64

$3.09 $3.09

-14.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 $2.28

$3.07 $3.07

-25.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.87 $6.87

$4.10 $4.10

67.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.84 $8.84

$5.05 $5.05

75.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.25 $1.25

$1.40 $1.40

-10.71%

White Bread (500g)

$3.72 $3.72

$4.13 $4.13

-9.93%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$3.91 $3.91

37.85%

Eggs

$4.74 $4.74

$7.17 $7.17

-33.89%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.84 $13.84

$10.15 $10.15

36.35%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.40 $14.40

$15.31 $15.31

-5.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.38 $18.38

$12.51 $12.51

46.92%

Apples (1kg)

$5.22 $5.22

$3.01 $3.01

73.42%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$2.36 $2.36

-16.10%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.06 $4.06

$2.03 $2.03

100.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.97 $4.97

$1.98 $1.98

151.01%

Potato (1kg)

$2.67 $2.67

$3.55 $3.55

-24.79%

Onion (1kg)

$2.66 $2.66

$2.04 $2.04

30.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.24 $2.24

$2.91 $2.91

-23.02%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.13 $3.13

$2.49 $2.49

25.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.82 $13.82

$15.35 $15.35

-9.97%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.88 $14.88

$30.48 $30.48

-51.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.54 $2.54

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.51 $3.51

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.98 $1.98

22.73%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$73.5 $73.5

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.18 $3.18

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.39 $1.39

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.03 $25.03

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 $1.20

$1.31 $1.31

-8.40%

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

$35.0K $35.0K

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

$26.7K $26.7K

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

$194 $194

$498 $498

-60.98%

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

$69.5 $69.5

$93.1 $93.1

-25.43%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.6 $61.6

$143 $143

-56.83%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.90 $47.90

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.34 $27.34

Cinema Ticket

$17.81 $17.81

$10.03 $10.03

77.57%

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

$1,794 $1,794

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.9K $31.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.0 $67.0

$85.4 $85.4

-21.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.1 $52.1

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 $102

$98.0 $98.0

3.63%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$144 $144

$152 $152

-5.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,526 $2,526

$1,389 $1,389

81.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,578 $1,578

$1,332 $1,332

18.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,738 $4,738

$2,724 $2,724

73.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,693 $2,693

$2,235 $2,235

20.48%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,190 $4,190

$1,642 $1,642

155.21%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,768 $2,768

$1,358 $1,358

103.86%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,931 $4,931

$4,252 $4,252

15.97%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.81

6.19

10.02%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 25, 2026

Last update for Sitka, AK: October 24, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52%

Sitka, AK

–

Groceries & Markets

Chicago, IL

$447 14.7%

Sitka, AK

–

Eating Out

Chicago, IL

$345 11.4%

Sitka, AK

–

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chicago, IL

$326 10.7%

Sitka, AK

–

Clothing & Footwear

Chicago, IL

$164 5.4%

Sitka, AK

–

Getting Around

Chicago, IL

$93 3.1%

Sitka, AK

–

Sport & Entertainment

Chicago, IL

$84 2.8%

Sitka, AK

–

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,526 in Chicago, IL versus $1,389 in Sitka, AK. 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 16% higher in Chicago, IL, 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 in Chicago, IL versus $80 in Sitka, AK. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $447 vs $409 – making Sitka, AK the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 Sitka, AK

🕒 Local time

08:04 8:04 AM

05:04 5:04 AM

3 h behind Chicago, IL

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

2,746,388

8,700

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.899 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Chicago, IL Sitka, AK 3,740 km ≈ 5 h nonstop flight

From you

Chicago, IL
Sitka, AK

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Sitka, AK: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,037 in Chicago, IL, $3,144 in Sitka, AK – roughly 4% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in eating out.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,555 per month in Chicago, IL and $4,715 in Sitka, AK. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Sitka, AK, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,389 there versus $2,526 in Chicago, IL.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89 in Chicago, IL and $80 in Sitka, AK. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,037 in Chicago, IL and $3,144 in Sitka, AK. That’s a gap of about 4%.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,037 in Chicago, IL and $3,144 in Sitka, AK. 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 $3,037 in Chicago, IL to $3,144 in Sitka, AK. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.