Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Tacoma, WA Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Tacoma, WA

๐Ÿ™‚ Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 0.6% cheaper than Tacoma, WA without rent, and 7.4% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 5.8% more expensive than Tacoma, WA without rent, and 4.4% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Tacoma, WA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$16.69 $16.69
24.75%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$72.3 $72.3
38.84%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$12.48 $12.48
-4.09%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$6 $6
-7.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.9 $2.9
7.24%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$2.27 $2.27
6.61%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$7.64 $7.64
-10.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$11.88 $11.88
-28.87%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Tacoma, WA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.16 $1.16
-10.34%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$4.09 $4.09
1.47%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$8.12 $8.12
-32.02%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$4.95 $4.95
-6.06%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$11.63 $11.63
23.22%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$16.37 $16.37
-9.10%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$18.83 $18.83
2.71%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$5.15 $5.15
0.39%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.63 $1.63
4.91%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$4.99 $4.99
-11.62%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$5.05 $5.05
-10.69%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$3.37 $3.37
-24.93%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$2.86 $2.86
-4.20%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$2 $2
21.50%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.88 $2.88
-6.25%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$10.96 $10.96
38.59%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$16.27 $16.27
0.92%
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
$6.34 $6.34
-41.64%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Tacoma, WA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.52 $2.52
0.40%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
$61.6 $61.6
20.42%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$2.63 $2.63
27.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.65 $1.65
-13.94%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$30.16 $30.16
-15.72%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$1.19 $1.19
-9.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$36.5K $36.5K
-11.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$27.7K $27.7K
-5.36%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Tacoma, WA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$230 $230
-18.04%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$72.8 $72.8
-12.49%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$87.9 $87.9
-25.85%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Tacoma, WA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$52.5 $52.5
46.24%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
$15.27 $15.27
-14.67%
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$15.78 $15.78
-5.39%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Tacoma, WA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$2,119 $2,119
-2.65%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$32.1K $32.1K
21.88%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Tacoma, WA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$59.5 $59.5
8.10%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$44.56 $44.56
17.57%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$87.7 $87.7
8.58%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$137 $137
5.79%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Tacoma, WA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,971 $1,971
20.61%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,789 $1,789
-11.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$3,129 $3,129
52.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$2,829 $2,829
-0.49%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$4,110 $4,110
-12.70%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$3,881 $3,881
-35.84%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Tacoma, WA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$4,711 $4,711
11.98%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.51
1.38%

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 Tacoma, WA: October 29, 2025

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