Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and State College, PA Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and State College, PA

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 39% more expensive than State College, PA without rent, and 31.7% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 48.5% more expensive than State College, PA without rent, and 36.9% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$18.2 $18.2

14.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$50.7 $50.7

97.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$8.79 $8.79

36.18%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$4.47 $4.47

24.38%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.64 $2.64

17.80%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.02 $2.02

19.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$4.88 $4.88

40.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$6.88 $6.88

22.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$0.95 $0.95

9.47%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$3.37 $3.37

23.15%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$2.01 $2.01

174.63%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$3.99 $3.99

16.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$9.94 $9.94

44.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$8.61 $8.61

72.82%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$11.89 $11.89

62.66%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$3.65 $3.65

41.64%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.57 $1.57

8.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$5.03 $5.03

-12.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$5.03 $5.03

-10.34%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.11 $2.11

19.91%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.95 $2.95

-7.12%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.14 $2.14

13.55%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$1.49 $1.49

81.21%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$14.05 $14.05

8.11%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$14.99 $14.99

9.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.72 $1.72

36.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$7.45 $7.45

-50.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.19 $2.19

15.53%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

$85.5 $85.5

-13.32%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$5.35 $5.35

-37.57%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$2.27 $2.27

-37.44%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$44.8 $44.8

-43.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.97 $0.97

11.34%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$23.8K $23.8K

36.37%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$24.4K $24.4K

7.54%

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

$188 $188

$160 $160

17.82%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$40.02 $40.02

59.17%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$60.6 $60.6

7.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$25.35 $25.35

202.64%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$12.01 $12.01

24.31%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$917 $917

124.84%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$28.6K $28.6K

37.08%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$46.08 $46.08

39.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$40.4 $40.4

29.68%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$80.6 $80.6

18.14%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$113 $113

28.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$1,498 $1,498

58.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,170 $1,170

35.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$2,894 $2,894

64.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$2,049 $2,049

37.39%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$2,583 $2,583

38.93%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$2,111 $2,111

17.96%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$4,336 $4,336

21.65%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.53

1.07%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for State College, PA: October 27, 2025

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