Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Sterling Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Sterling

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 31.5% more expensive than Sterling without rent, and 11.5% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 20.4% more expensive than Sterling without rent, and 19.8% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$20.2 $20.2

3.07%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$85.9 $85.9

16.78%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$13.33 $13.33

-10.20%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$5.32 $5.32

4.51%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.81 $2.81

10.68%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.33 $2.33

3.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$5.93 $5.93

15.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$7.94 $7.94

6.42%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$0.98 $0.98

6.12%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$3.44 $3.44

20.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$2.13 $2.13

159.15%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$4.94 $4.94

-5.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$19.1 $19.1

-24.97%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$12.15 $12.15

22.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$18.33 $18.33

5.51%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$4.8 $4.8

7.71%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.33 $1.33

28.57%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$6.99 $6.99

-36.91%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$6.58 $6.58

-31.46%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$3.45 $3.45

-26.67%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.69 $2.69

1.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.21 $2.21

9.95%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$2.47 $2.47

9.31%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$8.77 $8.77

73.20%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$13.76 $13.76

19.33%

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

$5.1 $5.1

-27.45%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.04 $2.04

24.02%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$4.43 $4.43

-24.60%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.39 $1.39

2.16%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$28.94 $28.94

-12.16%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.81 $0.81

33.33%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$26K $26K

24.57%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$24.6K $24.6K

6.46%

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

$188 $188

$209 $209

-9.86%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$52.6 $52.6

21.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$73.6 $73.6

-11.36%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$28.88 $28.88

165.65%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$14.73 $14.73

1.36%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,721 $1,721

19.82%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$23.8K $23.8K

64.62%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$48.23 $48.23

33.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$45.88 $45.88

14.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$97.4 $97.4

-2.21%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$119 $119

21.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$1,287 $1,287

84.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,377 $1,377

15.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$2,007 $2,007

137.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$2,249 $2,249

25.15%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$2,820 $2,820

27.24%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$2,428 $2,428

2.57%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$3,806 $3,806

38.60%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.57

0.46%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Sterling: October 27, 2025

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