Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Stamford, CT Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Stamford, CT

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 4.9% more expensive than Stamford, CT without rent, and 15.9% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 5.6% more expensive than Stamford, CT without rent, and 15.9% cheaper with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Stamford, CT
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$16.81 $16.81
23.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$75.8 $75.8
32.37%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$9.24 $9.24
29.55%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$3.83 $3.83
45.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.6 $2.6
19.62%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$2.15 $2.15
12.56%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$6.32 $6.32
8.54%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$8.15 $8.15
3.68%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Stamford, CT
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.11 $1.11
-6.31%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$4.79 $4.79
-13.36%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$9.02 $9.02
-38.80%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$3.71 $3.71
25.34%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$15.65 $15.65
-8.43%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$10.47 $10.47
42.12%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$17.53 $17.53
10.33%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$5.55 $5.55
-6.85%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$2.19 $2.19
-21.92%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$4.34 $4.34
1.61%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$4.75 $4.75
-5.05%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$4.28 $4.28
-40.89%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$4.47 $4.47
-38.70%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.47 $2.47
-1.62%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.26 $2.26
19.47%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$14.6 $14.6
4.04%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$18.74 $18.74
-12.38%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.77 $1.77
32.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$3.64 $3.64
1.65%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Stamford, CT
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$3.98 $3.98
-36.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
$30.23 $30.23
145.22%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$8.08 $8.08
-58.66%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$2.03 $2.03
-30.05%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$29.65 $29.65
-14.27%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.93 $0.93
16.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$32.7K $32.7K
-0.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$25.3K $25.3K
3.53%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Stamford, CT
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$147 $147
27.62%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$43.02 $43.02
48.07%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$54.7 $54.7
19.13%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Stamford, CT
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$110 $110
-30.01%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
$21.56 $21.56
-39.56%
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$12.94 $12.94
15.38%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Stamford, CT
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,411 $1,411
46.16%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$40.1K $40.1K
-2.41%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Stamford, CT
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$37.88 $37.88
69.77%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$23.52 $23.52
122.75%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$90.1 $90.1
5.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$164 $164
-11.53%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Stamford, CT
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$2,947 $2,947
-19.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$2,298 $2,298
-31.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$5,120 $5,120
-6.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$4,521 $4,521
-37.74%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$5,543 $5,543
-35.27%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$3,650 $3,650
-31.78%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Stamford, CT
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$5,483 $5,483
-3.79%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.3
4.76%

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 Stamford, CT: October 28, 2025

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