Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Syracuse, NY Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Syracuse, NY

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 1.6% more expensive than Syracuse, NY without rent, and 0.2% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 1.7% more expensive than Syracuse, NY without rent, and 9.6% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Syracuse, NY
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$17.23 $17.23
20.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$95.4 $95.4
5.19%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$11.51 $11.51
4.00%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$5.92 $5.92
-6.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.15 $2.15
44.65%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$1.83 $1.83
32.24%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$6.69 $6.69
2.54%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$7.42 $7.42
13.88%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Syracuse, NY
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.02 $1.02
1.96%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$3.79 $3.79
9.50%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$5.49 $5.49
0.55%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$4.41 $4.41
5.44%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$12.61 $12.61
13.64%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$13.3 $13.3
11.88%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$17.19 $17.19
12.51%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$5.93 $5.93
-12.82%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.22 $1.22
40.16%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$5.46 $5.46
-19.23%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$6.14 $6.14
-26.55%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$4.05 $4.05
-37.53%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$3.88 $3.88
-29.38%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.74 $2.74
-11.31%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.41 $2.41
12.03%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$12.64 $12.64
20.17%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$15.09 $15.09
8.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$2.94 $2.94
-20.07%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$4.64 $4.64
-20.26%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Syracuse, NY
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.71 $2.71
-6.64%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
$113 $113
-34.33%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$3.79 $3.79
-11.87%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$2 $2
-29.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$29.85 $29.85
-14.84%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.89 $0.89
21.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$28.8K $28.8K
12.64%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$25.9K $25.9K
1.06%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Syracuse, NY
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$234 $234
-19.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$57.9 $57.9
10.07%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$73.9 $73.9
-11.71%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Syracuse, NY
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$53.8 $53.8
42.60%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
$34.15 $34.15
-61.84%
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$14.86 $14.86
0.47%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Syracuse, NY
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,697 $1,697
21.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$17.8K $17.8K
120.23%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Syracuse, NY
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$55.2 $55.2
16.42%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$48.91 $48.91
7.12%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$95.9 $95.9
-0.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$123 $123
17.50%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Syracuse, NY
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,794 $1,794
32.56%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,467 $1,467
8.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$3,492 $3,492
36.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$2,404 $2,404
17.10%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$3,792 $3,792
-5.37%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$3,818 $3,818
-34.78%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Syracuse, NY
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$3,560 $3,560
48.19%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.42
2.80%

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 Syracuse, NY: October 27, 2025

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